Paul A. Hotchkiss, 63, musician

Paul Averill Hotchkiss 63, of Sharon, a former Ridgefielder who was a musician and songwriter with two Gold Records, died at his home on May 18, 2005, after a brief illness. He was 63 years old and the husband of Shelley Hotchkiss, and had lived in Sharon for the last 10 years.

Mr. Hotchkiss was born in New York City, son of Shirley Dawson and the late Rollin D. Hotchkiss, and grew up in Douglaston, N.Y. He attended Marietta College and graduated from Hofstra University.

He lived in Ridgefield for 18 years before moving to Bethlehem and finally Sharon.

Mr. Hotchkiss had worked in sales for Continental Oil, Crawford Russell, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and most recently at the Lakeville Journal newspaper.

“His true profession and love was music,” his family said. An accomplished guitarist, he began writing songs in his teen years and performed in a band, which got recorded by Shelly Records, producing their first hit, “Lovey Dovey.” Another early 60’s hit, “Tight Spot,” was recently re-released by Ace Records of London, in a CD collection of “golden age” rock and roll instrumentals.

In his Ridgefield home at 25 Bob Hill Road, he started his own recording studio and record label and music publishing company, Red Kastle Records and Blue Hill Music. He was “Hutch” of Malone and Hutch, performing country and Irish music with partner Gerry Malone for the last 30 years throughout greater New England, New York, and Ocean City, Md.

During his music career he wrote hundreds of songs that were recorded by numerous country music artists, in the U.S., Canada and Europe. He earned two Gold Records, and numerous top 100 hits in this country and abroad. He was a member of BMI, and the Connecticut Songwriters Association.

He also had a passion for railroad history, antiques, birds, and baseball. He and his wife Shelley were antiques collectors and dealers. Additionally, he coached Little League baseball, played and competed in badminton and tennis.

He is survived by his wife, Shelley Hotchkiss of Sharon; his mother, Shirley D. Hotchkiss and his sister, Cindy Lydgate, both of Camden, Maine; his three children, all of whom attended and graduated from Ridgefield schools: Margit Hotchkiss Milligan of Dalton, Mass.; David Paul Hotchkiss and wife, Dorothy, and Richard M Hotchkiss of Denver, Colo.; his stepmother, Magda G. Hotchkiss, of Lenox, Mass.; his stepdaughter, Jessie Lane of Sharon; his grandchildren: Lincoln Hotchkiss and Alex Chapman of Denver; Meagan, Marissa, and Aubrey Milligan of Dalton, Mass.; and several cousins, aunts and uncles, and many, many friends.

He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Rollin D. Hotchkiss, formerly of Lenox, Mass., and his former wife, Anita Juve Hotchkiss.

Memorial services were held May 22 at the Sharon Congregational Church, on the Green in Sharon

The Hotchkiss family invites friends, neighbors and fans to visit the Web site, maloneandhutch.com, to view photos, read and add thoughts to the talk board.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Audubon Society, Sharon, Connecticut Land Trust, World Wildlife Federation or the American Cancer Society.

The Kinney Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, has care of arrangements.