The Tony Rice Unit

Tony Rice
Born	David Anthony Rice (1951-06-08) 8 June 1951 Danville, Virginia, U.S.
Died	25 December 2020(2020-12-25) (aged 69) Reidsville, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, vocalist
Years active	1970s–2015
Known for	Bluegrass guitar and vocals; pioneering acoustic guitar in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass, and acoustic jazz

David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020) was an American guitarist and vocalist renowned in the bluegrass genre. He was widely regarded as a pioneering figure in acoustic guitar within bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass, and acoustic jazz circles. In 2013, he earned a place in the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

Rice’s musical output ranged from classic bluegrass to jazz-infused New Acoustic styles and folk music emphasizing songwriting. Throughout his extensive career, he collaborated with notable musicians such as J. D. Crowe and his band the New South, David Grisman, and Jerry Garcia. He led the Tony Rice Unit, partnered with Norman Blake, recorded with his siblings Wyatt, Ron, and Larry, and was a founding member of the Bluegrass Album Band. His recordings often featured non-traditional bluegrass instruments like drums, piano, and soprano saxophone alongside the usual acoustic ensemble.

Early years

Born in Danville, Virginia, Rice’s family relocated multiple times due to employment demands, residing in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina before finally settling in Los Angeles, California. There, his father Herb Rice, an accomplished mandolin player, introduced him and his brothers—Tony and Wyatt on guitar, Larry on mandolin, and Ronnie on upright bass—to the world of bluegrass music. They honed their skills under the guidance of Los Angeles-based musicians such as the Kentucky Colonels, led by Roland and Clarence White. Herb Rice joined the Golden State Boys after being inspired by the Kentucky Colonels. At age nine, Tony met Clarence White and eventually acquired White’s famous 1935 D-28 Martin guitar (serial number 58957), which became integral to his signature sound. Clarence White’s guitar techniques significantly influenced Rice’s playing style, which also drew inspiration from the innovative approaches of Doc Watson. Encounters with artists like Ry Cooder, Herb Pedersen, and Chris Hillman further solidified his musical foundation.

In 1971, Rice married Kate Freeman; they relocated to California when he joined David Grisman in creating Grisman's Dawg style—an innovative form of acoustic music. Their marriage ended in 1979. Later, Rice married Pam Rice, who remained his partner until his passing in 2020.

Groups

Mandolinist Sam Bush first encountered Rice at Carlton Haney's bluegrass festival in Reidsville, North Carolina in 1970 and invited him to join the Bluegrass Alliance.

That same year, Rice moved to Louisville, Kentucky to become part of the Bluegrass Alliance before soon joining J.D. Crowe's New South. The New South was recognized for its progressive approach to bluegrass; however, Rice was critical of their use of drums and electric instruments. When Ricky Skaggs became a member in 1974, they produced J. D. Crowe & the New South, an acoustic album that achieved significant commercial success for Rounder Records at that time. The group featured Rice (guitar/lead vocals), Crowe (banjo/vocals), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Skaggs (fiddle/mandolin/tenor vocals), and Bobby Slone (bass/fiddle).

Rice met mandolinist David Grisman during sessions for Bill Keith's debut Rounder Records album Something Auld, Something Newgrass, Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass. Grisman had experience working with Red Allen and was pioneering a fusion of jazz, bluegrass, and classical elements. Subsequently, Rice left the New South to join Grisman's instrumental ensemble, the David Grisman Quintet. To enhance his versatility, Rice studied chord theory and music reading with guitarist John Carlini, who assisted him in mastering jazz improvisation techniques. Their 1977 debut release became a landmark recording within acoustic string band music.

In 1980, Rice co-established the Bluegrass Album Band alongside Crowe, fiddler Bobby Hicks, mandolinist Doyle Lawson, and bassist Todd Phillips. This group produced several acclaimed albums on Rounder Records through 1996.

With the Tony Rice Unit, he ventured into experimental "spacegrass" territory on albums such as Mar West, Still Inside, and Backwaters. The band included members like Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin), Wyatt Rice (guitar), Ronnie Simpkins (bass), John Reischman (mandolin), and Rickie Simpkins (fiddle). During the late 1980s, Alison Krauss frequently performed live with the group for approximately one year but did not participate in studio recordings. Additionally, Alison Brown appeared as a guest artist during this period.

Collaborations

In 1980, Rice teamed up with Ricky Skaggs to produce the acclaimed traditional bluegrass duet album Skaggs & Rice. He subsequently released two albums with the traditional instrumentalist and songwriter Norman Blake, along with two projects under The Rice Brothers banner (1992, 1994), featuring his late older brother Larry and younger siblings Wyatt and Ronnie.

Beginning in 1984, Rice partnered with banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on four albums: Double Time (1984), Drive (1988), Tales from the Acoustic Planet (1995), and The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2 (1999).

In 1993, Rice collaborated with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia to record the album The Pizza Tapes. The following year, he and Grisman released Tone Poems, showcasing vintage mandolins and guitars.

Also in 1994, Rice worked alongside Mark Johnson on Clawgrass, Mark Johnson with the Rice Brothers and Friends, which included contributions from his brothers Larry, Wyatt, and Ronnie.

In 1995, Rice recorded a duo album with John Carlini, known for his work with the David Grisman Quintet.

By 1997, Rice co-founded the so-called anti-supergroup Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen, joining forces with brother Larry, Chris Hillman, and banjo player Herb Pedersen. This group produced three albums between 1997 and 2001.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he performed within a quartet alongside guitarist and singer-songwriter Peter Rowan, bassist Bryn Bright (later replaced by Bryn Davies), and mandolinist Billy Bright, who was eventually succeeded by Sharon Gilchrist.

Solo career

After departing from Grisman's ensemble in 1979, Rice recorded Acoustics, an album influenced by jazz. This was followed by Manzanita, which merged elements of bluegrass and folk music. Later releases such as Church Street Blues, Cold on the Shoulder, Me & My Guitar, and Native American blended bluegrass with jazz guitar stylings while featuring songs penned by artists like Ian Tyson, Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Rice's deep baritone voice was a hallmark of his sound until a diagnosis of muscle tension dysphonia in 1994 compelled him to cease live singing. In 2014, he was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), which caused significant pain while playing guitar; his final live guitar performance took place during his induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2015, he announced that he would not resume public performances until he could fully satisfy audience expectations.

The authorized biography titled Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story, authored by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright, was published in 2010 by Word of Mouth Press based in Kingsport, Tennessee. Its official launch occurred at Merlefest in North Carolina that same year.

Death

Rice passed away at his residence in Reidsville, North Carolina, on December 25, 2020, at the age of 69.

Influence

Tony Rice transformed the approach to bluegrass guitar and established a profound legacy within the genre. David Grisman praised him as "a consummate musician of exceptional skill," while Ricky Skaggs referred to Rice as "the most impactful acoustic guitarist of the past five decades."

Rice's style was marked by its subtlety and strength, combining steady rhythm with thoughtfully crafted melodic improvisations. By surpassing the techniques of his peers, he raised the bar for bluegrass guitarists everywhere. His impact on the history of bluegrass guitar remains unparalleled.

Guitarist Molly Tuttle emphasized Rice’s widespread appeal and lasting impact, pointing out that even seasoned musicians frequently revisit his techniques. The Punch Brothers dedicated their album Hell on Church Street in honor of Rice and his influential 1983 release Church Street Blues. Band members acknowledge that Rice’s earlier recordings played a crucial role in shaping their sound, and Chris Eldridge, a member of the group, was among Rice’s protégés. Although intended as a surprise for Rice, the album was ultimately finished after his death.

Grammy

• Best Country Instrumental Performance: The New South, Fireball (1983)

IBMA

• Instrumental Group of the Year: Bluegrass Album Band (1990)
• Instrumental Performer of the Year, Guitar (1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2007)
• Instrumental Group of the Year: The Tony Rice Unit (1991, 1995)
• Instrumental Album of the Year: Bluegrass Instrumentals, Volume 6 (Rounder); Bluegrass Album Band (1997)
• Inducted into Hall of Fame, 2013

External links

• Classicweb.com
• Tony Rice discography at Deaddisc.com