Local Musicians Band Together To Support Bluegrass Legend Tony Rice
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 10, 2014 4:30PM
For bluegrass purists Tony Rice is more than an influential figure; he’s a legend, if not a living immortal. Rice, a 2013 inductee into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame, is widely regarded as one of the greatest flatpickers of his or any era with a strong picking hand and a nimble fret hand working musical magic across the strings. Rice’s work with the David Grisman Quintet introduced him for the first time to musical theory and jazz, and by the time Rice struck out on his own in 1979 he had developed a singular style that has influenced traditional and progressive bluegrass, “newgrass” and even acoustic jazz guitarists.
But time gets to all of us and Rice is no exception. Over the past 20 years Rice has struggled with muscle-tension dysphonia, a disorder that contracts muscles around the vocal cords resulting in an inability to maintain pitch while singing and making it hard to speak. The natural ravages of arthritis and tendinitis have limited what he can do with a guitar in his hands. Although Rice said at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony last year his voice was getting better he’s canceled numerous concert dates over the past 10 years and even musicians of his stature rely on touring revenue to pay the bills.
A group of musicians organized by Andy Miller, mandolinist and singer in local bluegrass act Dog 1, are hosting a concert to benefit Rice 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Martyrs'. Joining Miller will be his Dog 1 bandmate Ben Benedict, Nate Baker and Aaron Dorfman of Doggone Mountain, Mike Church of Sunnyside Up, Tom Gerlach, Steve Haberichter of The Leadfoot Band, Eric Lambert, Pat Otto, Starr Moss of the Henhouse Prowlers, and Chris Walz. It’s being billed as a celebration of Rice’s legacy and his influence on all of these musicians and the proceeds from this concert will be sent directly to Rice. You can buy advance tickets to the event here.
If you can’t make it to this show but still wish to help, a PayPal account has been designated for Rice or donations may be mailed to:
Tony Rice
P.O. BOX 914
Odessa, Fla. 33556