Compiled by John Prytherch

CHARLES SAWTELLE DIED in the night of Saturday, 20th March, 1999, while on a plane en route for treatment for leukaemia. He had been in intensive care for the last month in hospital in California. His liver and kidneys finally couldn’t handle the stress of all the medication and graft vs. host disease (a result of his bone marrow transplant of two years ago).

Throughout the 1980s, the bluegrass world was dominated by Hot Rize, a tremendously talented and entertaining band from Colorado. Part of their distinctive sound was surely the rhythm and lead guitar of Charles Sawtelle.

Charles was an outstanding guitarist who's unique style has helped define the bluegrass sound for over twenty-five years. As an original member of the ground breaking bluegrass band Hot Rize, he toured extensively in the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. His playing was polished and consistent, punctuated with creative, bluesy solos. He had been called "the most under-rated guitarist in Bluegrass" by Come For To Sing magazine and Frets magazine reported- "Charles Sawtelle's influence has been profound". With Hot Rize he performed at every major bluegrass festival in the United States as well as on many radio and television shows including The Grand Old Opry, Austin City Limits, The Prarie Home Companion and several Nashville Network television productions.

Hot Rize recorded 6 albums, as well as 3 albums featuring Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, their alter-ego honky-tonk band. Hot Rize advanced to the top of the bluegrass world with the critically acclaimed album Untold Stories (1987), then, in l990 received the first "Entertainer of the Year" award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Their last release, Take It Home, was nominated for a Grammy in 1990 and the song Colleen Malone from the album, won "Song of the Year" in 1991 at the IBMA awards. Although Hot Rize officially disbanded in 1990, they continued to play reunion tours.

Charles Sawtelle with Tony Furtado
Barge trip on the Manchester Ship Canal, Sept, 1969
(Photo - Owen Duffey, St.Helens)

For the past several years, Charles had been touring and performing with the renowned recording artist Peter Rowan, and with his own "retro-grass" band - Charles Sawtelle and the Whippets. Charles recently recorded an album with Peter Rowan entitled Bluegrass Boy on Sugar Hill Records. Released in September of 1996, it was nominated for a Grammy. Along with Peter and Charles, the album also features other bluegrass luminaries including Richard Greene, Laurie Lewis, and Del McCoury. Charles Sawtelle and the Whippets was a traditional sounding bluegrass band with an old time feel, performing many modern and original songs. The band featured Charles singing lead vocals and playing the guitar; Fred Zipp on the mandolin and vocals; Jim-Bob Runnels playing the banjo and harmony vocals; and Dan Mitchell on acoustic string bass and vocals. The Whippets occasionally were joined on stage by Richard Greene, Laurie Lewis, or Tim O'Brien adding the sound of the fiddle to the band, or Sally Van Meter playing the dobro. Charles Sawtelle and The Whippets were highlighted on the recording Rockygrass: Live Music From Colorado and were scheduled for recording in the Summer of 1997.

Charles had recently finished working on a solo album featuring Charles and other notable musicians such as David Grisman, Flaco Jimenez, Michael Doucet and Jerry Douglas. Also in recent months he was reviewing tapes of Hot Rize performances from 1996, toward putting together a live album. Both these records may be available before too long.

Compiled by John Prytherch, Conwy, North Wales.

1st May 1999