Just got word that Chuck Pyle died November 6. The Zen Cowboy folksinger played the Sisters Folk Festival a couple of times and rolled through regularly on house concerts. Recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker, Suzy Bogguss, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many others.
Well, he said himself that he’s “a lover of the other side of the hill” and now he’s gone over.
Ten-four, buddy, come on back.
Horse trailer on a cadillac,
You’re talking to the cowboy in the coupe de ville.
Chug a lug up one side, glide down the other,
I’m a lover of the other side of the hill.
Dick Sandvik says
Another sad passing….Pyle was a nice picker/singer. Still listen to his CD on occasion. How old was he? He doesn’t look very healthy in that “Other Side of the Hill” video…suspect the Big C got him.
Dick
JimC says
He battled health problems for a long time, I think. He got mercury poison back in the ’90s and I think he suffered from other maladies as well.
Bill says
Chuck was doing fine. He was still gigging regularly, and was fly fishing the day he died.
JimC says
Thanks for the word, Bill. Not a bad way to go out, I’d say.
Judy Smith says
Chuck Pyle was well-loved by the music community all over the country. He, and his music, will be greatly missed.
Gisela Woggon says
I was lucky enough to hear Chuck at a concert in Santa Barbara several years ago. He was such a beautiful musician. I am so sad to hear of his passing. I always thought I would hear him again.
Rick P says
So sad to hear. Rest well, Chuck.
Will says
I have loved Chuck Pyle’s music for as long as I’ve known about him. I first saw him perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival and was hoping to see him one more time, in Taos, NM, next year. His guitar and vocal style and great song writing will be appreciated for a lont time to come. R.I.P. Chuck Pyle.
JimC says
Great to see the comments re: Chuck Pyle. I guess the lesson is, we should always go see these folks when they come to town — you never know if they’ll pass your way again. We should never take for granted the gifts they bring.
Matt Stone says
Nice thoughts Jim. Chuck was favorite of mine. In fact my first visit to the Sisters festival and song camp was due to Chuck. If anyone was ever prepared for the other side it was Chuck. I felt like he kept one foot in that river and shared some of the secrets in his songs.
JimC says
Thanks for stopping by, Matt. He made an impression here, for sure.
Ann Northcott says
Chuck has always been my favorite performer. My husband and I have traveled to see him and I continue to listen to his music. It never gets old. I will definitely miss him.
Bob Daniel says
So sorry Chuck had to leave us so soon. I am grateful for all of his concerts here in north Texas, and especially for his guitar workshop in Wimberly.
So long, Chuck. I’ll see you on the other side of the hill!
Pat Stannard says
How fortunate are we that we met Chuck here at Floras Lake. Many times hearing his amazing voice, most recently an outdoor concert for many of us who loved him. He is missed. May his spirit continue to fill the world.
Andy Bennett says
Did sound for Chuck a few times at the Mountain Music Festival in Manitou Springs. He always made my temperature rise, my heart beat faster and my eyes water. A powerful man of Words and Music.
Robert Anderson says
Chuck always had so many little bits of wisdom to share . You could see in the way that he lived his life that he believed them and practiced them daily . One of my favorites of his is ” Life is short , but it’s wide ”
Thanks Chuck, for the good you brought to the world through you kind and generous spirit , and the musical treasures you shared with us all . We should all strive to be able to look back from where you are now and see a life as well lived as yours was . You are sorely missed …….
JOHN W BURSHTAN says
i was lucky enough to work with chuck in the 90s. he gave us permission to use “Colorado” as our theme song for the PBS series “Spirit of Colorado.” he also gave me personal permission to live life, and see the world clearly. one of my favorites from him, “Life is short, but it’s wide.” safe travels to the other side of the hill chuck.
Jerry says
Oh yes, that “Colorado” tune is burned into my brain from repetition. I like to play it on the iPod when I’m “sitting by a Mesa Verde campfire.” The Jerry Jeff cover of “Jaded Lover” was one of my favorites for a couple of decades before I learned that Chuck wrote it.
I saw him at the Swallow Hill folkie joint in Denver. I remember he had a Zen/Karma thing going; meaning he asked (very softly and politely) for the sound guy to fix something and then noticed that he (Chuck) had turned it off by mistake. He then went on at some length in complementing the sound guy’s performance as if he were trying to restore some kind of karmic balance.
“Keeping time by the river” offers perspective, “Here comes the water” offers gratitude,
“The other side of the hill,” offers, well, sometimes you just need a shit kicker.
JimC says
Nice…