Larry Rice - Mandolinist, Singer, Songwriter Extraordinaire- My Friendship with a Musical Genius
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Larry Prentis Rice, born on April 24, 1949, and passed away on May 13, 2006, was a renowned American musician known for his skills as a mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and band leader in the bluegrass genre. He gained recognition for his exceptional solo albums and his distinctive style of syncopated mandolin picking.
Rice was born in Danville, Virginia, but spent his formative years in California alongside his brothers Tony, Ronnie, and Wyatt. His father, Herb, played a significant role in forming the Golden State Boys bluegrass band, along with Hal and Leon Poindexter. During his time with the Golden State Boys, Rice formed a friendship with Chris Hillman.
Inspired by the musical talents of Roland and Clarence White from the Kentucky Colonels, Larry Rice, along with his brothers Tony (guitar) and Ronnie (bass), performed together as The Haphazards.
In 1969, Rice relocated to Kentucky, marking the start of his professional career with J. D. Crowe's first band, the Kentucky Mountain Boys. He also played a vital role in the formation of Crowe's subsequent band, the New South, alongside notable musicians like Doyle Lawson, Red Allen, and Bobby Slone.
In 1975, Rice became a member of the Dickey Betts Band, supporting Betts' Highway Call album during their tour. The band also included Vassar Clements and Rice's uncle, Frank Poindexter.
Larry Rice released his debut solo album, "Mr. Poverty," in 1975 under the King Bluegrass label. He took a break from music in 1979 but returned to the scene and subsequently released albums such as "Hurricanes and Daydreams" (1985) and "Time Machine" (1987).
In 1990, Rice released "Artesia," featuring collaborations with talented musicians like Rickie Simpkins, Clay Jones, Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Steve Wilson, Sammy Shelor, Jon Carroll, Ronnie Simpkins, and Robbie Magruder. The album also included a guest vocal performance by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
His album "Notions and Novelties," released in 1996, showcased the musical prowess of Gabe Valla, Tony Rice, James Tucker, Frank Poindexter, Mark Johnson, Wynn Osborne, Rickie Simpkins, and Tracy Collins.
Rice collaborated with his brothers Tony, Ron, and Wyatt on the albums "The Rice Brothers" (1989) and "The Rice Brothers 2" (1994), both released under Rounder Records. He also joined forces with Tony Rice, Chris Hillman, and Herb Pedersen in the 1990s, forming the group Rice, Rice, Hillman, and Pedersen.
Larry Rice's final solo album, "Clouds Over Carolina," was released in 2005 and featured contributions from Ronnie Simpkins, Jeff Parker, Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Frank Poindexter, Sammy Shelor, and Rickie Simpkins.
Sadly, Rice succumbed to mesothelioma cancer in 2006. In 2014, Rebel Records paid tribute to his remarkable career by releasing the retrospective album "If You Only Knew: The Best of Larry Rice," comprising 16 tracks highlighting his musical legacy.
Thank you so much for this video!!!!!!! Larry was an awesome musician & songwriter!!!!!!! He never got the recognition he deserved!!!!!!!
I think Larry wanted to go in a different direction musically when he left Crowe. I could be completely wrong, but I also think he may have felt a bit overshadowed by Tony. Such a large & growing musical shadow, may have stifled Larry's creative side a bit, while in the same band with Tony. I would always assume that they got along pretty well & it was just the right move for Larry to make at that time. Are any live or studio recordings of Larry when he worked with Dickey Betts?
Larry was an exceptional guitarist in his own right, but his style was different than Tony's. What guitar playing I've heard of Larry's was laid back & more of a singer/songwriter style where Tony's was very punctuated & more driven on strict timing. Larry's tenor singing with Tony had a special blend that usually only happens with family. Skaggs & Gaudreau were great, but Larry was always my favorite to hear singing with Tony.
I never knew Larry or Tony except through their music. I met Crowe twice & one of those was at his house when the Blue Chip ppl were designing his thumbpick. However, the loss of those 3 ppl have affected me in a way that I can't explain. It's like they took a part of my musical soul with them. I would have loved to have known & talked with them outside of music some!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for watching! I agree with everything you said. The music world will never be the same without Larry, Tony, and J.D. I also agree that Larry was a fantastic guitar player in his own right. He could play fingerstyle accompaniment in an excellent way and use a flatpick as well. Loved his music and Tony's and J.D.'s. Thanks again!
Didn't know Tony had a brother named Larry I will definitely check him out thank you very much
Thank you for watching! I believe you will love his music!
Another interesting story! Thanks Brad, really appreciate you posting these.👍🏽👍🏽
Thank you so much for watching and your encouragement. I appreciate you!
If anyone wants to hear the last recording of the rice brothers together, check out Frank Poindexter’s solo project “ It’s The Music”. Larry was a hero of mine and spent I spent 15 years on the road with Frank. Oh the Larry stories he told were priceless. Great videos sir!
Thanks so much for watching! I have Frank's recording you speak of, and it is FANTASTIC. Wish I could hear some of those Larry stories! Thanks again!
Why make it sound like Larry Rice wrote a bunch of songs for Tony's "Cold On The Shoulder" album ?!? He wrote one - "If You Only Knew." Two were by Tony's favourite songwriter - Gordon Lightfoot - two were traditional - one was by Bob Dylan, etc., etc., etc. Only one was written by Larry Rice.
Thanks for watching! You are correct that he wrote only the one song for "Cold On The Shoulder", which was "If You Only Knew." I didn't mean for it to come across that Larry wrote a lot of the songs on that project. What I meant to come across what that I became familiar with his work on that record and from that point on, the more I heard him playing mandolin, singing and his original songs, the more I loved his talent.