{{short description|American musician}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Saxsquatch | image = | image_size = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Dean Mitchell | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} | birth_place = | origin = Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baltin |first1=Steve |title=Q&A: John Oates And Saxsquatch On Their New Version Of 'Maneater,' Great Sax, Musical Sasquatches And More |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2021/03/19/qa-john-oates-and-saxsquatch-on-their-new-version-of-maneater-great-sax-musical-sasquatches-and-more/?sh=4db29c5e2f7b |work=Forbes |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=19 March 2021}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} | death_place = | genre = | occupation = Musician | instrument = saxophone, keyboard, double bass, programming, sampling, drum machine | years_active = 2019–present | label = Monstercat<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lugen |first1=Mikala |title=Legendary Musician John Oates Joins Forces With Saxsquatch for Dance Remix of 1982 Classic "Maneater" |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/john-oates-saxsquatch-maneater |newspaper=Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=22 March 2021}}</ref> | associated_acts = John Oates, Half an Orange | website = {{URL|https://saxsquatch.com|}} }} '''Dean Mitchell''', better known by his stage name '''Saxsquatch''',<ref>{{cite web |date=19 August 2020 |title=Saxsquatch |url=https://uspto.report/TM/90124838 |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=uspto.report}}</ref> is an American musician known for playing original and cover versions of songs on the saxophone while wearing a Bigfoot costume.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Bill |date=28 October 2020 |title=After long break, music slowly returning to the Mountain State |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/putnam_news/after-long-break-music-slowly-returning-to-the-mountain-state/article_823120f5-45d3-52ec-925b-c634aefc4b80.html#:~:text=Formerly%20the%20saxophonist%20for%20the,and%20they're%20superstars.%E2%80%9D |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=herald-dispatch.com |publisher=The Herald-Dispatch}}</ref> Mitchell is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and electronic music artist from North Carolina. He has appeared in a number of viral videos and amassed a large social media following.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Essex |first1=Lucas |date=22 March 2021 |title=John Oates And Saxsquatch Team Up To Reimagine "Maneater" |url=https://nysmusic.com/2021/03/22/john-oates-and-saxsquatch-team-up-to-reimagine-maneater/ |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=nysmusic.com}}</ref>
==Career==
Mitchell began uploading his Saxsquatch performances to YouTube in 2019 and his cover of Daft Punk's ''One More Time'' went viral.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Madden |first1=Ben |title=This Cover Of Daft Punk's 'One More Time' By Bigfoot Is Amazing |url=https://www.coolaccidents.com/news/daft-punk-one-more-time-saxsquatch-cover |website=coolaccidents.com |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=28 May 2020}}</ref> His cover of ''You Don't Know Me'' was featured on ''Tosh.0''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saxsquatch Covers Ray Charles' 1962 Song "You Don't KNw Me" on Saxophone |url=https://countryrebel.com/saxsquatch-covers-ray-charles-1962-song-you-dont-know-me-on-saxophone/ |website=countryrebel.com |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=6 May 2021}}</ref> By September 2020, his videos averaged 3–5 million views per day on social media and he became one the top solo artists on the ''Pollstar'' livestream charts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saxsquatch Announces Multi-City Outdoor Saxual Healing Tour 2020 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Saxsquatch-Announces-Multi-City-Outdoor-Saxual-Healing-Tour-2020-20200915 |website=broadwayworld.com |access-date=6 May 2021}}</ref> His music has been described as "a full-on mash-up of live instrumental saxophone, upright bass, and funky electronic beats."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Woolley|first=Sarah|date=2021-07-29|title=Five Artists to Catch at Summer Camp Music Festival 2021|url=https://edmidentity.com/2021/07/29/five-artists-to-catch-at-summer-camp-music-festival-2021/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023070143/https://edmidentity.com/2021/07/29/five-artists-to-catch-at-summer-camp-music-festival-2021/|archive-date=2021-10-23|access-date=2021-10-23|website=EDM Identity|language=en-US}}</ref>
Mitchell played saxophone with The Marcus King Band until 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 January 2020 |title=Saxophonist Dean Mitchell Announces Departure From The Marcus King Band |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/saxophonist-dean-mitchell-leaving-marcus-king-band/ |access-date=31 January 2020 |website=liveforlivemusic.com}}</ref>
In October 2020, Saxsquatch commenced the ''Saxual Healing Tour 2020'', which featured outdoor concerts at multiple venues.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomson |first1=Rex |title=In Search Of Saxsquatch [Interview] |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/saxsquatch-interview-2020/ |website=liveforlivemusic.com |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=5 November 2020}}</ref> By early 2021, his "Live From The Woods" performances became Facebook's top recurring music stream.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brow |first1=Jason |title=John Oates Gets Mythical WithSaxsquatch For A Smooth Electro-JamVersion Of 'Maneater' |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2021/03/19/john-oates-saxsquatch-maneater-song-video-interview/ |website=hollywoodlife.com |publisher=Hollywood Life |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=19 March 2021}}</ref> In 2021, Saxsquatch and John Oates collaborated to create an electronic dance music cover of the Hall & Oates' 1982 song ''Maneater''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oates |first1=John |title=In Conversation: John Oates and, um, Saxsquatch |url=https://www.talkhouse.com/in-conversation-john-oates-and-um-saxsquatch/ |website=talkhouse.com |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=2 April 2021}}</ref> The duo live streamed the song together on March 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=See John Oates Team Up With Saxsquatch for EDM Spin on Hall and Oates' 'Maneater' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-oates-saxsquatch-maneater-video-1144664/ |website=rollingstone.com |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=6 May 2021 |date=19 March 2021}}</ref> Saxsquatch and Half an Orange collaborated and released the single ''Moondance'', which was featured in the videogame Rocket League in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwood |first1=Joseph |title=Interview With a Saxsquatch: Gettin' Funky in the Forest |url=https://www.alittlebithuman.com/interview-with-a-saxsquatch/ |website=alittlebithuman.com |access-date=20 April 2022 |date=17 April 2022}}</ref> On January 31, 2022, Saxsquatch appeared on episode six of ''That's My Jam'' hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saxsquatch on Jimmy Fallon "That's My Jam" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp-0EZWQ1R8 |website=YouTube.com | date=4 February 2022 |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
In 2024, on the "Bigfoot Rave" tour added a laser show to an already dynamic set. In 2025, the "Footprints" tour sold out 27 shows across the United States, ending at a sold-out show in Denver at Cervantes Ballroom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.saxsquatch.com/pages/about |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Saxsquatch}}</ref>
== Philanthropy == In 2024, Mitchell worked with the town of Chapel Hill to create "Cryptids with a Cause", a free concert combined with a food drive benefiting PORCH, an organization that distributes food to local schools and over 700 families monthly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saxsquatch Flash Mob combines the power of community with performance |url=https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2024/09/lifestyle-saxsquatch-flash-mob |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Saxsquatch Flash Mob combines the power of community with performance - |language=en-US}}</ref>
This event encouraged attendees to dress as "something they believe in", and costumes included cryptids, aliens, and merfolk.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Klee |first=Miles |date=2025-02-15 |title=Saxsquatch, the Bigfoot Who Blasts on Saxophone, Will Save Your Sanity |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/saxsquatch-youtube-bigfoot-tour-1235267095/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saxsquatch}} Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Chapel Hill, North Carolina Category:American male saxophonists Category:American male jazz musicians Category:21st-century American saxophonists Category:Bigfoot in popular culture Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American electronic musicians