Knuckles"), with its own songs, fictional back story and odd costumes. Hot Rize was the International Bluegrass Music Association's first Entertainer of the Year in 1990, and in 1993, O'Brien took the IBMA's Male Vocalist of the Year honors. In 1990, Hot Rize disbanded as a regular touring and recording band. However, after the death of guitarist Charles Sawtelle, in 2002 Hot Rize was joined by award winning guitarist Bryan Sutton and the band began to once again play limited engagements. Duets with Mollie O'Brien In 1984, O'Brien and his sister Mollie O'Brien reunited for a Mother's Day concert, and four years later recorded the duet album Take Me Back. Chip Renner of AllMusic gave the album 4.5/5 stars, and called it "a masterpiece." In 1986 they began performing again as an Americana duo, and produced two more albums, Remember Me (1992), and Away Out on the Mountain (1994). All three records were released on Sugar Hill Records. Solo career O'Brien, who had already recorded several albums without Hot Rize, embarked on a solo career. He briefly signed to RCA Records, recording an album with them called "Odd Man In", before being dropped. Sugar Hill Records eventually released the album, and O'Brien has not signed to a major since. In 1990, O'Brien also charted along with Kathy Mattea on the duet "The Battle Hymn of Love", which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. In 2010, O'Brien featured prominently on Kris Drever's second solo album, Mark the Hard Earth. He also produced at least one instructional video/DVD of mandolin and bouzouki instruments. Howdy Skies records O'Brien started his own record label, Howdy Skies Records, in 1999. Style and sound Although naturally left-handed, O'Brien plays the guitar and other instruments right-handed. Distinctions and awards In 2014, O'Brien won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for "The Earls of Leicester" 2013 Inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame In 2005, O'Brien won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for Fiddler's Green. In 1993 and 2006, O'Brien was honored with the International Bluegrass Music Award (IBMA) for Male Vocalist of the Year. His band Hot Rize was the IBMA's first Entertainer of the Year in 1990. Discography References External links 1954 births American bluegrass musicians American country guitarists American male guitarists American country singer-songwriters American fiddlers American folk musicians Grammy Award winners