Barry Waldrep and Friends Celebrate Tony Rice Barry Waldrep and Friends Celebrate Tony Rice by Susan Marquez He was born in Danville, Virginia, but Tony Rice grew up in Los Angeles, where his father, Herb Rice, introduced Tony and his brothers to bluegrass music. He learned from some of the West Coast’s most talented bluegrass and country artists, including Roland and Clarence White of the Kentucky Colonels. By 1970, Tony spread his musical wings and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he played with the Bluegrass Alliance and J.D. Crowe’s New South. More musical endeavors ensued over the next decade, which led him on a path of experimentation with material that blended jazz, bluegrass, and classical styles. He studied chord theory and learned to read charts, although he enjoyed musical improvisation. He had a strong solo career and collaborated with artists Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, and Jerry Garcia. By his 2013 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame induction, Tony had developed a disorder that forced him to stop singing, and his induction performance was the last time he played guitar in public. In 2014 he was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow,” which made playing the guitar painful. At that point, he retired from performing altogether. Tony Rice died in his home in Reidsville, North Carolina, on December 25, 2020.
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Barry Waldrep and FriendsCelebrate Tony Rice
Barry Waldrep and Friends CelebrateTony Riceby Susan Marquez
He was born in Danville, Virginia, but Tony Rice grew up inLos Angeles, where his father, Herb Rice, introduced Tony andhis brothers to bluegrass music. He learned from some of theWest Coast’s most talented bluegrass and country artists,including Roland and Clarence White of the Kentucky Colonels.By 1970, Tony spread his musical wings and moved toLouisville, Kentucky, where he played with the BluegrassAlliance and J.D. Crowe’s New South. More musical endeavorsensued over the next decade, which led him on a path ofexperimentation with material that blended jazz, bluegrass,and classical styles. He studied chord theory and learned toread charts, although he enjoyed musical improvisation. He hada strong solo career and collaborated with artists RickySkaggs, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, and Jerry Garcia.
By his 2013 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame induction, Tony haddeveloped a disorder that forced him to stop singing, and hisinduction performance was the last time he played guitar inpublic. In 2014 he was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis,or “tennis elbow,” which made playing the guitar painful. Atthat point, he retired from performing altogether. Tony Ricedied in his home in Reidsville, North Carolina, on December25, 2020.
As a musician, Tony developed into an expert guitarist,leaving a lasting imprint on the bluegrass genre. After Tony’sdeath, Ricky Skaggs stated that Tony Rice was the single mostinfluential acoustic guitar player in the last fifty years.Tony was undoubtedly one of the most influential, inventive,and beloved musicians in all of bluegrass and Americana music.
This year, on the first anniversary of Tony’s passing,bluegrass instrumentalist and producer Barry Waldrep will bereleasing a 21-song tribute album called Barry Waldrep andFriends Celebrate Tony Rice. And what a list of friends.Americana greats Rodney Crowell and Jim Lauderdale makeappearances on the album and jam band artists Warren Haynesand Oteil Burbridge. The tribute album also includes Countrysuperstars Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris and Rock and RollHall of Fame inductees Spooner Oldham and Patrick Simmons.Tony’s music reached beyond just bluegrass. The variety ofartists on the LP are a testament to the wide range of musicTony influenced. Barry says the artists on the album all knewthe music of Tony Rice very well. Also included on the albumare many well-known musicians and harmony singers, allinfluenced by Tony.
https://youtu.be/Pog8mp5X420
As a musician, Tony developed into an expert guitarist,leaving a lasting imprint on the bluegrass genre. After Tony’sdeath, Ricky Skaggs stated that Tony Rice was the single mostinfluential acoustic guitar player in the last fifty years.Tony was undoubtedly one of the most influential, inventive,and beloved musicians in all of bluegrass and Americana music.
This year, on the first anniversary of Tony’s passing,bluegrass instrumentalist and producer Barry Waldrep will bereleasing a 21-song tribute album called Barry Waldrep andFriends Celebrate Tony Rice. And what a list of friends.Americana greats Rodney Crowell and Jim Lauderdale makeappearances on the album and jam band artists Warren Haynes
and Oteil Burbridge. The tribute album also includes Countrysuperstars Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris and Rock and RollHall of Fame inductees Spooner Oldham and Patrick Simmons.Tony’s music reached beyond just bluegrass. The variety ofartists on the LP are a testament to the wide range of musicTony influenced. Barry says the artists on the album all knewthe music of Tony Rice very well. Also included on the albumare many well-known musicians and harmony singers, allinfluenced by Tony.
The album includes thirty-seven featured artists, and on it,Tony’s songs and stylings will continue to live on through themusicians he inspired. “All of these artists knew the music ofTony Rice very well,” Barry says. “Artists from classic andSouthern rock royalty to heavy metal, Americana, country androots Gospel. “Tony Rice has always been more than aninfluential guitar player to me,” says Barry. “He moved meemotionally with everything he played. It all came from theheart through his fingers on the strings of the guitar. Heinfluenced guitar players, but he also inspired so manysinger-songwriters in many different genres with a voice thatwas unmistakably Tony Rice.”
In 2011, Barry and Tony were traveling together for a show.“He told me a lot about what inspired him as a musician,” saysBarry. Several years later, Barry participated in a projectto benefit Tony. “We went into the studio and cut our song,but the album was never completed. In February 2021, mymanager, Brian Smith, suggested we release the song we hadrecorded as a single in tribute to Tony. As I listened to thesong over and over, I began thinking of the conversation I hadwith Tony back in 2011. I called Brian and told him I thoughtwe should do an album instead of one song.”
Every song on the album is a standout. “Song for Life”featuring Rodney Crowell is special because the song waswritten by Rodney and recorded by Tony. Vince Gill and EmmylouHarris provide harmony vocals on the cut. The song that gotthe whole thing started, Me and My Guitar, is the actualrecording from seven years ago, featuring John Cowan. Thebassist for the Doobie Brothers, John, has an incredible vocalrange. John and Barry are joined on the recording by OteilBurbridge and Benji Shanks. Visit barrywaldrep.com for a listof contributors and more information.
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