Bob Pace is Iowa’s king of guitar

2/5/2025

There’s a king of pop. A king of rock. And there’s an Iowa king of guitar as well. Although that’s not Bob Pace’s definition of himself.

But take a listen to decide for yourself. 

When I first heard Pace’s shredding guitar, I was mesmerized. His Eric Clapton/Buddy Guy/Jimmy Page mash-up shows Pace ranks up there with the guitar greats. Yet, this guy is in our own backyard.

Pace has honed his craft for 50 years. His latest foray is with the Central Iowa Blues Society. During this year’s festival, he established an Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Showcase, featuring all Iowa Blues Hall of Famers including Scott Eggleston, Dwight Dario, Greg Sutherland and Steve E. George, along with guests George and Gil Davis. 

“It’s a great line up,” he says. “We’re lucky to get them all at once.” 

Pace has played “since dirt.” When he turned 18, he played in bars and clubs as part of country and classic rock bands. The first 10 years, he felt his playing didn’t progress. 

“It didn’t seem like I made a lot of headway,” he recalls. “Yet, one day, it came together. Dang, I thought. Someone said, ‘You made that guitar talk.’ I’m onto something there.”

After that pivotal moment, he honed his craft through due diligence. 

“I practice daily. The secret is to keep up practice and keep trying to improve. The day I don’t get up and want to practice, that’s when I retire.”

Pace’s unique strumming behind his back resulted from watching a Jimi Hendrix video.

“He got his tricks from Buddy Guy. He was a real showman. If you put on a show and can entertain a crowd, it’s the highest calling. With showmanship, you feel in your heart people are listening. I pride myself on being an entertainer. When you can make someone smile and forget about it all, I feel pretty good about it,” he reflects. 

Over the years, Pace has played in bands and solo acts. One of his greatest accomplishments was performing work release parties at the Gaslamp, formerly the Blues on Grand. Bob Pace and the Dangerous Band played every Friday night to a capacity crowd.

When the Gaslamp closed, he mourned not for the venue but for the loyal fans who came every Friday. 

“Gaslamp closing was a big loss to the community. It was a blues family, where people held birthday parties. We didn’t know a stranger,” he reflects.

His current work release party moved to the Greenwood Lounge Friday nights. 

Pace is excited for another new band, Bob Pace and the Power. The idea developed after attending a jam session in late 2024, where he heard bass, Led Zeppelin songs and musicians hitting all the right notes. 

“I was inspired to form a band different from the Dangerous Band. The fun part is I get to relive my 1970s classic rock era,” he says.

The Power currently holds practice Monday nights at the Greenwood. 

“It’s a public rehearsal-type show. We stop, make corrections,” he explains. “It shows we’re human.”

He has lent his expertise to more than 100 different musicians and bands. He won the Iowa Blues Challenge twice. One of the highlights of his career was playing with Walter Trout. 

“I’m fortunate to jam with a lot of blues stars,” he says. “Performing with my two sons, Nick and Tony, that’s special, too.”

He’s recorded albums and collaborated with other musicians. One of his latest songs is “Gospel Blues.” He explains, “Anytime I can play soulful blues, I’m a happy camper.” 

Being a working musician is what makes him want to get up in the morning. “I look back, and I’m happy with what I’ve done. I’ve made goals that were reasonable and obtainable — a good music life. I’ll play my heart out until I can’t anymore.” 

He adds, “Thank you to my blues family. It’s a real blessing to have you on this journey.” ♦