Chuck Pyle

Chuck Pyle (January 28, 1945 – November 6, 2015)[1] also known as the "Zen Cowboy"[2][3] was an American country-folk singer-songwriter and guitarist whose career spanned more than 40 years, during which he recorded 13 albums.

Chuck Pyle
Also known asZen Cowboy
Born(1945-01-28)January 28, 1945
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 6, 2015(2015-11-06) (aged 70)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
GenresCountry, folk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, guitarist


Early years

Chuck Pyle was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Newton, Iowa[4] where he sang in the school choir. He was the adopted son of Lyle, a railroad conductor, and Julie, a school teacher. Pyle dropped out of college in his home state of Iowa and moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1965, hoping to build a career in music.[4]

Career

In the winter of 1970, having made minor progress as a musician, he was invited to a cabin in Gold Hill that was owned by songwriter Steve Fromholtz. There, he met the musicians John Cable and Richard Dean. Soon, Cable and Pyle joined forces in the five-piece band Colours, with Pyle as a bass player.[4]

Pyle's vocal abilities and songwriting talents made him well known in country music songwriting circles. Pyle wrote "Cadillac Cowboy" for Chris LeDoux (it appeared on LeDoux’s 1988 album Chris LeDoux and the Saddle Boogie Band). He also wrote Jerry Jeff Walker's "Jaded Lover" (which appeared on Walker's 1975 album Ridin' High). During his career, Pyle wrote songs recorded by John Denver, Suzy Bogguss, Gary P. Nunn, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Owen Temple. He also made numerous appearances on radio and television over the years to include Colorado Public Radio and Austin City Limits.[2][4]

In January 2015, Chuck Pyle released his last album, Cover Stories. It is a collection of 12 songs from lesser-known songwriters he admired, Hayes Carll, Lynn Miles, and Walt Wilkins, Pete & Lou Berryman's among others. On the album, Pyle was accompanied by Gordon Burt on fiddle and Don Richmond on steel guitar, dobro and mandolin.[1][3]

Nevertheless, Chuck Pyle never gained widespread acclaim. He only had a minor chart success in 1985 with "Drifter’s Wind" taken from his album Drifter’s Wind. The song reached #60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Other self-produced albums followed in the years after, Endless Sky, Camel Rock, Affected By The Moon.[5][6]

Death

Chuck Pyle died on November 6, 2015, at the age of 70. Pyle was found floating face down on Palmer Lake. He was pronounced dead at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to an autopsy report released by the El Paso Country Coroner's Office, Chuck Pyle drowned just after 8 p.m. while fly-fishing near his home in Palmer Lake, Colorado, atherosclerosis - a disease in the arteries - could have also contributed to his death.[2][7][8][9]

References
  1. ""Zen Cowboy" & Beloved Songwriter Chuck Pyle Passes Away". Saving Country Music.com. November 8, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  2. "Chuck Pyle, songwriter and 'Zen Cowboy' of Boulder, dies at 70". The Denver Post. November 11, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  3. "Chuck Pyle". Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  4. "Chuck Pyle". Newton Daily News. November 12, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  5. Alex Burness (November 11, 2015). "Chuck Pyle, songwriter and 'Zen Cowboy' of Boulder, dies at 70". Daily Camera. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  6. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chuck-pyle-mn0000127312/discography
  7. Jen Mulson (November 10, 2015). "Palmer Lake's 'Zen Cowboy' Chuck Pyle has died". The Gazette. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  8. Chhun Sun (December 9, 2015). "Coroner's office issues report on death of Palmer Lake guitarist". The Gazette. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  9. Andrea Dukakis (November 10, 2015). "'Here Comes the Water': Remembering Colorado Musician Chuck Pyle". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2016.

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