Our Story

In January of 1988 the Groove Catz musicians Mark Molter, Shane Culver, Rex Shipplett and Don Molter made their humble start by putting together a jazz saxophone quartet. Their first performance was at Jazz Night at the local high school as a special guest performance. Later that summer, along with Scott Culver the band competed in and won the overall 6-week talent contest in Danville, Illinois.  Thus began a journey for the next two decades that has solidified a family and entertained thousands of people around the Midwest. 

The guys originally played jazz which was comprised of a saxophone quartet and Scott playing both trombone and keyboards. Chuck Molter, brother of both Don and Mark was added to the group in September of that same year to help incorporate a sixties rock and roll influence.  It was at this time the band chose to fuse rock and roll with a horn section.

The Groove Catz have been influenced by a wide range of groups from Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and the Doobie Brothers, to Earth, Wind & Fire, The Blues Brothers, and Tower of Power.  Throw in a little Wilson Pickett, Santana, The Eagles and even a little country and you have the right ingredients for a wild ride.

The Groove Catz musical styles have changed over the past twenty years as well as their band names. The Groove Catz have also gone by Freeport, The Ballpark Franks, and the Vinyl Kings. The most recent change to the Groove Catz came with  the addition of a trumpet player (or adoption as he is the only non family member of the band) and new focus on Blues, Jazz, Funk and other similar styles that highlight the horn section as a vital part of the band’s new sound.  The full time horn section has differentiated the Groove Catz from other bands. The new distinctive sound will take them into their third decade of entertaining the Midwest with their musical talents.

The Current Lineup is:

• Chuck Molter: Lead Guitar
• Don Molter: Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
• Mark Molter: Bass Guitar, Tenor Sax, Vocals
• Rex Shipplett: Soprano, Alto & Tenor Sax, Vocals
• Shane Culver: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
• Scott Culver: Trombone, Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
• Doug Wright: Trumpet, Pocket Trumpet, Valve Trombone, Flugelhorn