Western Swing,
Bluegrass
& Country Fiddle
High, Wide and Handsome
Hollywood Rodeo Band
1976 - 1999
The Hollywood Rodeo Band (HRB) was a popular regional Honky-Tonk dance band based out of Denver, Colorado. Founding members were EP Davis, Clarke Wright, Hagan Day and Ernie Martinez. G. Fred Swanson was the next to join the group in 1977 and Ernie went on to pursue other opportunities. Through the years the core of the Band would remain EP, Clarke and Fred. Other Musicians who worked with the group were, Matt Clayton, Rich Moore, Matt Pulizzi, David Rodriguez, Jim Grigg and Mark Rosenberg. J.R. Rozack spent some time as manager, Billy Day briefly was sound engineer and Steve Crabb often worked security and record sales.
The HRB featured original songs, mostly written by Clayton and Swanson, as well as many covers of classic Country and Rock-a-Billy dance tunes.
HRB was originally named Silverball for a brief period in the late 70s, but soon rebranded as Hollywood Rodeo Band after a short hiatus.
Often featured on radio stations KBRQ, KLZ and KLAK as well as many TV appearances the HRB had a strong Colorado and regional following. The band recorded extensively during the 80s, mostly ‘studio live’ as engineer Kevin Clock mixed the songs directly to stereo without overdubs or ‘fixes’.
In 1986 they were voted one of the top ten country bands in the United States by Willie Nelson and the Wrangler Country Music invitational at Willie Nelson’s nightclub in Austin, TX, as well as voted best Denver Country Band by Westward Magazine. They were the ‘go-to back-up band for many visiting Nashville artists including Johnny Rodriguez, David Frizzell, Ferlin Husky, Johnny Wright & Peggy Sue, Johnny Paycheck, as well as opening for many other national touring acts.
The Hollywood Rodeo Band was house band at the famed Four Seasons night club in Aurora, CO, until it was destroyed by fire on April 1, 1986.
After 1989 they toured extensively for the USO/DOD in over 60 countries and were awarded the Civilian Service Medal by The Department of Defense for service during Desert Storm.
HRB recordings:
Mexico/Togary Mountain 45 rpm single 1981
I Haven’t Learned a Thing LP record 1983
On the Western Trail Cassette Tape 1986
Saddle Up! Cassette Tape 1986
Fading Romance Cassette Tape 1987
Fading Romance/Like the First Time 45 rpm single 1987
Born Ready Cassette Tape 1987
Lookin’ At the World Cassette Tape (Compilation) 1990
and
Cowboy-Bluegrass Honky-Tonk Dancehall Music CD Compilation) 2014
In the late 1990s EP, Clarke and G. Fred returned to their roots, discarding the drums and electric instruments to form the trio “High, Wide and Handsome”.
High, Wide and Handsome (HWH) featured Clarke Wright, EP Davis and G. Fred Swanson. HWH performed an entertaining mixture of Bluegrass, Classic Country, Cowboy Songs and classic favorites, with a generous portion of spontaneous humor. Using guitars, fiddles, mandolin, dobro and bass, they were able to show off their versatility. Sometimes it was confusing to tell who was playing what!
HWH continued to tour for the USO/DOD overseas and recorded 3 CDs. They performed at festivals (including Rockygrass) and music venues throughout the west and were featured on the QVC shopping network. With Bosco, the Boy Cow, a cute, singing, wise-cracking hand puppet, they also did children’s performances at military bases in the US and concert halls.
After G. Fred Swanson’s death in 2009, multi-talented Ron Lynam, from ‘Front Range’ fame, stepped in to help fill the band’s remaining commitments. HWH continued for several more years with the Lynam, Wright, Davis configuration.
HWH’s third CD was in progress when G. Fred sadly took his own life. The recordings sat idle for 15 years before EP and Clarke finally were able to put the finishing touches on ‘Last Roundup’, the band’s final CD and most popular recording.
Shortly after Last Roundup’ was released, EP Davis passed away after a long battle with cancer.
High, Wide and Handsome Recordings:
High, Wide and Handsome CD 1998
Dreamer’s Lullaby CD 2000
Last Roundup CD 2019
Video's
All videos courtesy of d4i Production Studio
Fort Collins, CO
Recordings
High, Wide and Handsome (1998)
Great classic country and bluegrass. Recorded by Charles Sawtelle at Rancho DeVille. Special guests: Ernie Martinez on Steel, Jo Gable on Accordion and Mollie O’Brien, courtesy of Sugar Hill Records.
One Dozen Roses
My Hillbilly Gal
Soldiers Joy
Doggone Cowboy
Cowbell Polka
Western Sky
Will You Be Loving Another Man?
Coridino
Down The Trail To San Antoine
Jerusalem Ridge
Lights of Old Santa Fe
Thunder and Lightning
Clarke Wright: Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass Fiddle
G. Fred Swanson; Vocals, Bass Fiddle, Guitar
EP Davis: Guitar, Banjo, Dobro
CDs may still be available.
Dreamer’s Lullaby (2001)
Mostly original tunes written by G. Fred Swanson. Great Steel Guitar by Ernie Martinez. Dreamy and mellow
I’ll Love You Till The End Of Time
Here I Am, There I Go
Dreamer’s Lullaby
Vedauwoo
Only You Can Make Love Stay
Little Red Wagon
Calling Me Back Home
Never Sunshine, Always Rain
I Want To Be With You
Sagebrush
Dreamer’s Farewell
Clarke Wright: Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass Fiddle
G. Fred Swanson; Vocals, Bass Fiddle, Guitar
EP Davis: Guitar, Banjo, Dobro
Produced & arranged by High, Wide and Handsome for HRB Entertainment
Recorded & mixed by Charles Sawtelle Rancho De Ville, Boulder, Colorado
Mastered by David Glasser Airshow Inc., Boulder, CO (formerly of Springfield, VA)