Here’s another review of the Tony Rice Story by Lonesome Road Review.
Until this remarkable book by Tim Stafford (a great guitarist, singer and songwriter in his own right) and Carolyn Wright, I knew little of the man who has stood as the master craftsman of the bluegrass and acoustic guitar for about 40 years, taking time to also carve out a niche as one of the finest bluegrass lead singers ever.
In short, this book—which is exceedingly well-made and attractive—is everything you ever wanted to know about a musical giant, with the material presented clearly and readably by Stafford and Wright. It will send you to your record collection for the Rice that you do have, and to eBay, County Sales or the record store for what you don’t. It’s a major piece of bluegrass and acoustic music scholarship that belongs on any music fan’s bookshelf - Aaron Keith Harris.
Read the whole review at The Lonsome Road Review
Earlier this year we brought you news of the Tony Rice biography by Caroline Wright and Tim Stafford.
Ted Lehmann has written a review of the book which is now up on his website - The Ted Lehmann Blog.
In assessing Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story, the long awaited and recently released biography by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright, it’s important to realize that this elusive and extremely important pioneer of modern guitar style and practitioner of wonderfully expressive singing (until he decided he really didn’t like to sing) has told his story for forty years or so through his music, and we shouldn’t expect him to achieve clarity or transparency with his words about his life’s experience or verbal analysis of who he is – Ted Lehmann.
Read the full review on the Ted Lehmann Blog.
Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story
Weeks ago we brought you news of a new biography about to hit the stands. We heard from the publisher today that the The Tony Rice Story is Now Available
He is one of the greatest acoustic guitar players of all time, yet he’s virtually unknown outside bluegrass music. His closest friends describe him as warm and loving, and then speak in bafflement of his aloofness. He’s a distant demigod in a genre whose biggest stars are known for their accessibility. He’s a genius, a mystery, a legend in his own time.
Quotes from the book:
People think they know you because of the way you play and sing. And I am so guilty of that with Tony. I think I know who he is because of his records. I think I know what kind of person he is – Alison Krauss.
Every once in a while, there are seminal figures. They don’t come along even every five years. You might, by a fluke, get two of them in 20 years. Tony’s one of those guys - Béla Fleck.
I’ve never heard nobody, unless it’s Tony Rice—he might come close— that plays rhythm like I do - Jimmy Martin.
Anything he takes an interest in, he takes it to the fullest. Whatever it may be, he wants to know everything there is to know about it - Doyle Lawson
He was good, man. He was good. He just had too much talent to be somebody’s guitar player - David Grisman
A decade in the making, Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story delivers Tony’s tale in his own inimitable words, and in anecdotes and observations from his friends, family, fans, and fellow musicians.
Online Price: $24.99 Autographed Price: $34.99 (Limited Quantities)
The Tony Rice Story Released on 12th April.
The long awaited release of the biography of one of bluegrass’s most revered guitar players, Tony Rice, is almost upon us. Industry news has the release scheduled to co-inside with Merlfest on 12th April this year.
Tony’s story is told in his own words and features memories and insights from dozens and dozens of his family members, friends, and fans with an inside look at his life on and off the road. This is a bibliography of suggested reading for serious fans. More than 100 never-before published photos. Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story might be the bluegrass literary event of the year.
Woven throughout the anecdotes and memories are excerpts from a journal written by co-author Caroline Wright, who went on the road with Tony for a couple of weeks in the summer of 2003 and again in 2005, interviewing him as he drove to festivals, clubs, and recording studios. Caroline documents his everyday life in detail, and discovers things about Tony that will astonish and intrigue even his most knowledgeable fans.
Thanks to Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford, a highly respected acoustic guitarist in his own right, this book also provides insight into Tony’s matchless guitar playing. Tim explores Tony’s technique, his timing, his right hand, his choice of picks, and much more. Tim also discusses the life and times of Tony’s prize possession, formerly owned by the great Clarence White: the 1935 Martin D-28 Herringbone guitar also known simply as The Bone or The Antique.
You can pre-order your copy of The Tony Rice Story by going to this link and entering your email address - Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story.
Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story.
The highly anticipated authorised biography of acoustic guitar legend Tony Rice is now in the final stages of production and will be released in the very near future.
Many consider Rice the greatest acoustic guitar player of all time. Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story, written by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright, is Tony’s incredible life in his own words and those of witnesses, friends, family, and fellow musicians.
The biography covers Tony’s entire life from toddler to living legend, from North Carolina to California, from bluegrass to jazz and all points in between. Tony discusses his real and musical family, his biggest influences, his greatest moments and tragedies such as the loss of his father, his first gigs to his latest, and finally his voice.
The book is full of eyewitness accounts from the people who were there when it all happened. His mother Louise and many other family members share their memories of Tony’s life as a child all the way up to today.
Musicians such as Sam Bush, J.D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, David Grisman, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, and many many others share their stories of Tony and how it all began back in the days of playing bluegrass when bluegrass wasn’t so cool. Over 100 people were interviewed for this exhaustive book, which has been ten years in the making.
You can pre-order your copy of thie biography from this website link
Tony Rice is one of the many bluegrass start returning to Merlfest this year. Rice has been appearing at Merlfest for 21 years and 2009 will mark his 22nd as the festival winds into action this week in the small town of Wilksbro in North Carolina.
During his Merlfest appearances Rice has has played his famous acoustic guitar sound with almost every bluegrass name from Bela Fleck and Sam Bush to Alison Krauss and Union Station. The Merlfest website lists almost 100 acts playing on 15 stages to around 80,000 people over these four days. No small event.
Rice fans will enjoy an article in the Rockingham News N.C., written by Lisa Snedeker , a freelance writer.
Tony Rice – Rockingham News
A report from the Bluegrass Bog this morning anounces Tony Rice’s Santa Cruz guitar is up for sale.
The Bluegrass Blog Reports:
Here’s a special opportunity for all you Rice heads…
Tony Rice is offering his personal, 2007 Santa Cruz Tony Rice model guitar for sale. This is a custom instrument, built specifically to Tony’s specs, and which he used on the road through much of 2007 and 2008.
The guitar is being sold through Steve Swan Guitars, which has a detailed description of the guitar online, along with a number of close up photos.
The guitar is pictured on Steve Swan’s Website and the asking price is $25,000.00.
The Tony Rice model began in 1979 as a stage and touring replacement for Tony’s famous 1935 D-28, that was once owned by Clarence White. Rice needed a replacement guitar for this D28 rather than just a copy of its standard specifications to take on the road.
Read the whole story on The Bluegrass Blog
No other guitarist in the last thirty years has had a greater impact on acoustic music than Tony Rice. The new Rounder compilation, Night Flyer: The Singer-Songwriter Collection, due August 5, contains a broad selection of the music icon’s engaging vocal tunes taken from several of his albums – as well as three previously unreleased tracks – and demonstrates the wide range of non-bluegrass material that he incorporated into his signature sound.
Featured and accompanying musicians on this collection include Larry Atamanuik, Cole Burgess, Sam Bush, Kathy Chiavola, Vassar Clements, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Jimmy Gaudreau, Todd Phillips, Wyatt Rice, Mark Schatz, and Bill Wolf.
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