Blue Molly was formed in 2007 by a group of close friends, and is led by manager and bassist, Dan Beelen. The band loves to perform blues, classic R&B, and soul-filled renditions of popular favorites, and is a favorite in the downtown Grand Rapids nightlife scene. Their energy and camaraderie on stage is obvious as they create a unique connection with audiences of all ages.
Molly B. was born to perform. A Grand Rapids native, she joined the band at its inception and immediately won the hearts of audiences with her soulful voice and passionate performance. Likened to a young Aretha Franklin, Molly has performed with blues veterans Magic Slim out of Chicago and Edye Evans Hyde. She also performs in ensembles at GVSU where she is currently a Spanish Major.
David Raffenaud has been playing the piano since he learned how to crawl up onto the bench at around two years old. Also started playing pots & pans in his mother’s kitchen at about the same time. Took lessons for a while from the proverbial church organist, then at twelve, started learning to play by ear from an old friend named Lee DePree, who later sold him his first Farfisa Combo Compact organ. His first rock-and-roll band, “The Castaways”, included life-time friend John Vrieling, later of Cabbage Crik on drums; and future speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Paul Hillegonds on bass guitar. Soon John’s brother Bob joined the group on lead guitar, and silver throated Lynn DeKoster fronted the band, which then became “Shades of Lynn”.
Since those early years, David has delved into many forms of pop music, besides rock, including blues, folk, country, gospel, bluegrass, jazz, funk, swing . . . . you get the idea.
He has played, toured and recorded with: The Castaways, Shades of Lynn, The Sheffields, Truck, Eagan Ratt, Planet 7, Sylph, Wish, Cabbage Crik, Iowa Rose, The Hot Mud Family, Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, Madcat’s Pressure Cooker, The Lost World String Band, Jive at Five, The Blue Coast Quintet, The Last Call Band, The Schrock Brothers, Funktion