Larry Prentis Rice (April 24, 1949 – May 13, 2006) was an American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and band leader in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo albums and for his unique syncopated mandolin picking style.

Biography

Early years

Rice was born in

Danville, Virginia Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, located in the Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River. It was a center of tobacco production and was an area of Confederate activity ...

, but grew up in California, the oldest of the Rice brothers (

Tony Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...

, Ronnie, and Wyatt). His father Herb started the Golden State Boys bluegrass band along with Hal and Leon Poindexter. While playing in the Golden State Boys, Rice befriended

Chris Hillman Christopher Hillman (born December 4, 1944) is an American musician. He was the original bassist of and one of the original members of the Byrds, which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby and Michael Clarke. With frequent ...

. Inspired by brothers

Roland Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

and

Clarence White Clarence White (born Clarence Joseph LeBlanc; June 7, 1944 – July 15, 1973) was an American bluegrass and country guitarist and singer. He is best known as a member of the bluegrass ensemble the Kentucky Colonels and the rock band the Byrds, ...

of the California-based

Kentucky Colonels The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of ...

Rice and his brothers Tony (guitar) and Ronnie (bass) performed as The Haphazards and in other configurations, including Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party.

J. D. Crowe

In 1969, Rice moved to Kentucky and began his professional career in the Kentucky Mountain Boys,

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

's first band. Rice also helped form Crowe's next band the

New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with the ...

. Other members included

Doyle Lawson Doyle Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into ...

Red Allen Henry James "Red" Allen, Jr. (January 7, 1908 – April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose playing has been claimed by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstr ...

, and Bobby Slone.

Dicky Betts

Rice was a member of the

Dickey Betts Forrest Richard Betts (born December 12, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. Early in his career, he collaborated with Duane Allman, introducing melodic tw ...

Band in 1975 when Betts toured to support his ''

Highway Call ''Highway Call'' is the debut album by Dickey Betts (under the name Richard Betts), of The Allman Brothers Band. It was recorded in 1974 in Macon, Georgia, at Capricorn Studios. Betts further develops the country sound that emerged on the Allman ...

'' album.

Vassar Clements Vassar Carlton Clements (April 25, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and ...

and Rice's uncle Frank Poindexter were also members of the band.

Solo recordings

In 1975, Rice recorded his first solo album ''Mr. Poverty'' on the King Bluegrass label. Starting in 1979, Rice retired from music for several years. Rice's next solo album ''Hurricanes and Daydreams'' (1985) was followed by ''Time Machine'' (1987). Recorded in 1989 and released in 1990, ''Artesia'' found Rice helped out instrumentally by

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christians ...

(vocals, fiddle), Clay Jones, Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice (guitar), Steve Wilson (resonator guitar),

Sammy Shelor Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work. Biography Early years The Shelor Family has a long banjo ...

(banjo), Jon Carroll (piano), Ronnie Simpkins (bass), and Robbie Magruder (drums).

Mary Chapin Carpenter Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

was guest vocalist. ''Notions and Novelties'' was released in 1996, featuring Gabe Valla and Tony Rice (guitar), James Tucker and Frank Poindexter (resonator guitar), Mark Johnson and Wynn Osborne (banjo), Rickie Simpkins (fiddle), and Tracy Collins (piano, drums).

Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen

In 1989, Rice recorded the album ''The Rice Brothers'' for

Rounder Records Rounder Records is an independent record label founded in 1970 in Somerville, Massachusetts by Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin, and Bill Nowlin. Focused on American roots music, Rounder's catalogue of more than 3000 titles includes records by Al ...

with his three brothers Tony, Ron, and Wyatt. They followed up with ''The Rice Brothers 2'' in 1994. In the 1990s, Rice recorded and performed with his brother Tony, Chris Hillman, and

Herb Pedersen Herbert Joseph Pedersen (born April 27, 1944 in Berkeley, California) is an American musician, guitarist, banjo player, and singer-songwriter who has played a variety of musical styles over the past fifty years including Country music, country, ...

as Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen.

Later career

Rice released his final solo album ''Clouds Over Carolina'' in 2005. Joining him were Ronnie Simpkins (bass), Jeff Parker (background vocals); Tony Rice and Wyatt Rice (guitar), Frank Poindexter (resonator guitar); Sammy Shelor (banjo), and Rickie Simpkins (fiddle). In 2006, Rice died from mesothelioma cancer. In 2014, Rebel Records released the 16-track retrospective album ''If You Only Knew: The Best of Larry Rice''.

Discography

Solo albums

* 1975: ''Mr. Poverty'' (King Bluegrass) * 1986: ''Hurricanes & Daybreaks'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

) * 1987: ''Time Machine'' (Rebel) * 1990: ''Artesia'' (Rebel) * 1996: ''Notions and Novelties'' (Rebel) * 2005: ''Clouds over Carolina'' (Rebel) * 2014: ''If You Only Knew: The Best of Larry Rice'' (Rebel) compilation

With
J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

* 1971: ''The Model Church'' (Lemco) * 1973: ''Ramblin' Boy'' (King Bluegrass) with the Kentucky Mountain Boys * 1973: ''Bluegrass Evolution'' ( Starday) with the

* 1977: '' J. D. Crowe & The New South'' (Starday) * 1978: ''Blackjack'' (Rebel)

With
Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020), known professionally as Tony Rice, was an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and a ...

* 1973: ''

Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

'' (Rebel) * 1975: '' California Autumn'' (Rebel) * 1977: ''

Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020), known professionally as Tony Rice, was an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and a ...

'' (

Rounder Rounder(s) or The Rounder(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''The Rounders'' (1914 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounder'' (1930 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounders'' (1965 film), a western comedy * ''Rounders'' (film), a 1998 poker f ...

) * 1984: '' Cold on the Shoulder'' (Rounder) * 1993: ''

Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass ''Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass'' is an album by American guitarist Tony Rice, released in 1993. Allmusic entry for ''Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass''Retrieved September 2009. Track listing # "I've Waited as Long as I Can" ( Hylo B ...

'' (Rounder) * 1996: ''

Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot ''Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot'' is a compilation album by United States, American guitarist Tony Rice, released in 1996. It contains tracks written by Gordon Lightfoot and previously recorded by Rice, plus a previously unreleased track, "Whi ...

'' (Rounder) * 2003: '' 58957:The Bluegrass Guitar Collection'' (Rounder)

Larry Rice and Niles Hokkanen

* 1982: ''Larry Rice & Niles Hokkanen'' (self-released) cassette-only release with tablature book

The Rice Brothers

* 1989: '' The Rice Brothers'' (Rounder) * 1994: '' The Rice Brothers 2'' (Rounder)

With Rice, Rice, Hillman, and Pedersen

* 1997: '' Out of the Woodwork'' (Rounder) * 1999: ''

Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen ''Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen'' is a collaboration album by American guitarist Tony Rice, his brother, mandolinist Larry Rice, guitar and banjo player Herb Pedersen and guitar/bass player Chris Hillman, founding member of famous folk-rock ba ...

'' (Rounder) * 2001: '' Runnin' Wild'' (Rounder)

As composer

* 1999: J. D. Crowe - ''Come on Down to My World'' (Rounder) - track 2, "Come on Down to My World" * 2005:

Ronnie Bowman Ronnie Bowman (born July 9, 1961) is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Biography Early years A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman sang gos ...

- ''It's Gettin' Better All the Time'' (

Koch Records MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...

) - track 5, "Four Wheel Drive"

Also appears on

* 1995: Mark Johnson and Clawgrass - ''Clawgrass'' (Bangtown) * 1997: Mark Johnson and Clawgrass - ''Bridging the Gap'' ( Pinecastle) * 2001: Candlewyck - ''Candlewyck'' (Votive Records) * 2005: Frank Poindexter - ''It's The Music'' (Dex) with the Rice Brothers

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rice, Larry 1949 births People from Virginia Bluegrass musicians from Virginia American mandolinists American bluegrass mandolinists 2006 deaths New South (band) members