Catching up with the Blue Hornet Band
January 5, 2010 at 3:55 pm Ryan Jones 3 comments
Fifteen years ago, I stood in the crowd at Cafe 210 West drinking cheap beer out of plastic cups. On Saturday night, I sat at Elk Creek Cafe in Millheim drinking the delicious Anniversary Ale brewed on-premises by Tim Yarrington ’89. I must be doing something right. (Or maybe I’m just getting old.)
What I never guessed these nights would have in common: A chance to watch the Blue Hornet Band shred a stage.
Queen Bee live in 1998
It was a rare appearance for the band that packed State College bars during the 1990s, called it quits in 1999 (I drove in from New York City to catch their farewell gig at Cafe), and mourned the loss of singer Tonya Browne ’85 in 2001. The surviving members have played a handful of gigs since, and when this one was announced, my wife and I decided we couldn’t miss it.
The timing was especially bittersweet given the subject of the My Thoughts Exactly essay in the new (Jan/Feb) issue of The Penn Stater. My old Collegian colleague, Amy Zurzola Quinn ’94, penned a terrific remembrance of how Queen Bee helped her get through the darker moments of her college years. Alumni Association members can find it on page 11 of their new issue; for those looking for an online version they can pass along to friends, here’s a PDF of Amy’s piece. Enjoy.
Almost forgot: The Blue Hornets sounded great last weekend. Mark Ross is still an engagingly awesome and crowd-pleasing guitar player, and a guest appearance by Ross’ teenaged son, McKinley, on keyboards was a highlight of the night. Tonya Browne’s voice remains irreplaceable, but the guys did justice to her memory and music. Here’s hoping it’s not the last time they get together.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
Entry filed under: The Penn Stater magazine, Penn State alumni. Tags: Amy Zurzola Quinn, Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band, Tim Yarrington, Mark Ross, Tonya Browne, Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks.
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1. Lauren Young | January 5, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Nice piece, Ryan. I loved Tonya. She was special. Happy New Year to you and the missus.
2. Tim F. | January 2, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Ryan – I just came across your article and wanted to say thanks. I share your thoughts on Queen Bee & the Blue Hornet Band and echo those of Amy Zurzola Quinn, in that the band (Mark & Tonya in particular) helped me through one of the most difficult periods of life to that point. For that I’ll always be grateful and think of them with fond memories. I smile and laugh every time I think of seeing them at “The Phyrst” in 1987. BTW – their original recording (in vinyl) is one of my few treasured possessions!
Tim F. – Engineering ’89
3. Ryan Jones | January 3, 2011 at 11:05 am
Thanks Tim & Lauren, glad you both stumbled across this. Lauren, hope you guys are well.