Hot Rize

This article is about the bluegrass band. For the self-rising flour, see Martha White.
Hot Rize

Hot Rize in 2004: Pete Wernick, Nick Forster, Tim O'Brien, Bryan Sutton
Background information
Origin Colorado, United States
Genres Bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk
Years active 1978–present
Labels Sugar Hill Records, Flying Fish
Associated acts Jerry Douglas, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers
Members Nick Forster
Tim O'Brien
Pete Wernick
Bryan Sutton
Past members Charles Sawtelle
Mike Scap

Hot Rize is a bluegrass band that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Established in 1978,[1] the founding members were Mike Scap (guitar), Tim O'Brien on mandolin and fiddle, Pete Wernick on banjo and Charles Sawtelle on bass.[2] Mike Scap was almost immediately replaced by Nick Forster (electric bass), allowing Charles Sawtelle to switch to acoustic guitar.[3]

The band played together and issued 6 studio albums until they disbanded in 1990. From 1991-98 the band played several reunion dates each year. Following the death in 1999 of Charles Sawtelle, Hot Rize re-grouped in 2002, adding Bryan Sutton to play the guitar.[4]

In 2014 Hot Rize released the first studio album with Bryan Sutton, "When I'm Free", on Ten in Hands Records, and set out on their first tour in over 20 years in support of the record.[5]

When touring, Hot Rize often performs as a Western swing band called Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers.[6]

Early history

Hot Rize started performing in January, 1978. They soon established the main line-up consisting of Tim O'Brien on mandolin, fiddle and lead vocals, Nick Forster on electric bass, harmony vocals, and emcee work, Charles Sawtelle, on guitar and occasional lead vocals, and Pete Wernick, "Dr. Banjo".[1] The first, self-titled album was recorded in 1979 with follow-up Radio Boogie, released in 1981.[7]

Hot Rize has appeared on national radio and TV shows, and has toured most of the United States, as well as Japan, Europe and Australia.[8]

Origin of the band name

The band takes its name from the leavening ingredient found in Martha White flour and cornmeal products.[6] Hot Rize often performs the theme song to the now defunct "Martha White Biscuit and Cornbread Time", a radio show in the late 1950s and early 1960s on Nashville station WSM featuring Flatt and Scruggs.[9]

Discography

Studio albums:

Live albums:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hot Rize on Mountain Stage". NPR. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  2. ↑ Kimmel, Dick (2004) [Originally published in Bluegrass Unlimited 13, March 1979]. "Hot Rize: Pete Wernick's secret ingredient". In Thomas Goldsmith. The Bluegrass Reader. University of Illinois Press. pp. 239–245. ISBN 978-0-252-02914-1. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Hot Rize at AllMusic. Retrieved 23-9-2013.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "When I'm Free By Hot Rize". No Depression.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Reid, Gary B. (2012). "Hot Rize". In P. Kingsbury, M. McCall & J. Rumble. The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. pp. 968–970. ISBN 978-0-19-992083-9. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Review of Radio Boogie at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  8. ↑ G. Brown (2004). Colorado Rocks! A Half-Century of Music in Colorado. Pruett Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87108-930-4. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Samuelson, Dave (2012). "Martha White Flour". In P. Kingsbury, M. McCall & J. Rumble. The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. pp. 1281–1283. ISBN 978-0-19-992083-9. Retrieved 23 September 2013.

External links