Charles Sawtelle
Charles Sawtelle was an American bluegrass musician and a member of the band Hot Rize. Sawtelle died on March 20, 1999, from leukaemia.
Biography
A guitar player and vocalist, Sawtelle was one of the original members of Hot Rize. He also played the character Slade in the band's alter ego Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers).Sawtelle was born in Austin, Texas, but he grew up in Colorado. Before Hot Rize, Sawtelle was a member of the bands the Rambling Drifters and Monroe Doctrine.
In Hot Rize, Sawtelle played the bass until he replaced Mike Scap on guitar. Sawtelle also worked behind the scenes to ensure Hot Rize maintained a professional demeanor.
After the members of Hot Rize went their separate ways in 1990, Sawtelle formed the band Charles Sawtelle and the Whippets, including Fred Zipp, Jim-Bob Runnels, and Dan Mitchell. Sawtelle also performed and recorded with Peter Rowan.
Sawtelle recorded his one solo album Music From Rancho deVille while he battled the leukemia that led to his death. His friend Laurie Lewis co-produced the album, and ensured its posthumous release. Besides Lewis, the album features Michael Doucet and Vassar Clements, Todd Phillips, Flaco Jiménez, Jerry Douglas and Norman Blake, David Grisman, Sam Bush, and Tom Rozum, and, from Hot Rize, Nick Forster, Pete Wernick, and Tim O'Brien.
Sawtelle operated the Rancho Deville Recording Studio near Boulder, Colorado, and it remains in operation today as the Sawtelle Recording Studio.
After Sawtelle's death, flatpicking guitarist Bryan Sutton joined Hot Rize for their return to performance, touring, and recording.
Discography
Solo albums
- 2001: ''Music From Rancho DeVille''
As a member of Hot Rize
- 1979: Hot Rize
- 1981: Radio Boogie
- 1982: Hot Rize Presents Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers
- 1984: Hot Rize Extra Added Attraction: Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers in Concert
- 1985: Traditional Ties
- 1987: Untold Stories
- 1990: Take It Home
- 2002: ''So Long Of A Journey ''
As producer
- 1992: Front Range – The New Frontier
- 1993: Front Range – Back To Red River
- 1993: Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers – Shades of the Past
- 1994: Abhi Ktori – Feast of Magic
- 1994: Mary Flower – Blues Jubilee
- 1995: Kate MacLeod – Trying to Get It Right
- 1996: The Bluegrass Patriots – E Pluribus Bluegrass – reissued in 2008 with extra track
- 1997: Kate MacLeod – Constant Emotion
- 1997: Leftover Salmon – Bridges To Bert
- 1998: K. C. Groves – Can You Hear It
- 1998: Mollie O'Brien – Big Red Sun
- 1999: BeauSoleil – ''Cajunization''
Also appears on
- 1977: Pete Wernick – Dr. Banjo Steps Out – guitar on track 6, "Gnu Breakdown"
- 1979: various artists – Tellulive – as part of Hot Rize on track 8, "High On A Mountain"
- 1984: Tim O'Brien – Hard Year Blues – guitar on track 6, "Cottontail"
- 1985: Peter Ostroushko with the Sluz Duz Orchestra – Slüz Düz Music (Original American Dance Tunes with an Old World Flavor) – guitar on track 5, "Burnt Bisquit Breakdown"
- 1991: Beppe Gambetta – Dialogs – guitar on track 11, "The Storms Are On The Ocean"
- 1991: Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick – Together – guitar
- 1992. Hugh Moffatt and Katy Moffatt – Dance Me Outside – mixer
- 1996: Peter Rowan – Bluegrass Boy – guitar
- 1996: John Rossbach – Never Was Plugged – guitar, tenor vocal
- 1998: Tom Rozum – Jubilee – guitar
- 1999: John Herrmann / Tim O'Brien / Dirk Powell – Songs from the Mountain – guitar
- 2000: Si Kahn- Been a Long Time – guitar