(Above is a package of his guitar strings)
Sometime during Christmas morning while making his coffee, our dear friend and guitar hero Tony Rice passed from this life and made his swift journey to his heavenly home. It's still quite a shock to the whole family. After talking with Tony's wife Pam and their daughter India, they asked if I would make a statement on their behalf and give them some privacy to process during this difficult time. I was honored to help out. Tony is also survived by his brothers Wyatt and Ronnie, and all of you who loved his music and those who will continue to share it with others. Tony Rice was the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last 50 years. Many if not all of the Bluegrass guitar players of today would say that they cut their teeth on Tony Rice's music. He loved hearing the next generation players play his licks. I think that's where he got most of his joy as a player. With many IBMA Awards and a Grammy Award, Tony was a gracious recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Award's highest honor as an inductee into their Hall Of Fame in 2013. Not only was Tony a brilliant guitar player but he was also one of the most stylistic lead vocalist in Bluegrass music history. When I joined the group The New South in 1974, I knew I'd found a singing soul mate with Tony. Our voices blended like brothers. In 1980 we recorded the album "Skaggs And Rice" for Sugar Hill as a tribute to our duet hero's with just the simplicity of guitar, mandolin, and our voices. All these years later people tell me how much the purity of that record still touches their heart. That's who Tony was, a singer from the heart.
I will miss him as I'm sure all of you will. But where Tony is right
now, he's not missing us. He's in the place that God has prepared for
those who love Him and receive Him. Rest In Peace dear brother. Thank
you for your great talent and the music that will continue to inspire
more and more generations to come. - Ricky Skaggs
Photo credit: Jeremy M. Lange
Rowan & Rice Quartet Interview WDST Sept. 8, 2006
Banjo Newsletter used two of my above photos from the
There are stories from J.D., Ben & Chris Eldridge, Bill Emerson, Tony Trischka, Alison Brown,
I treasure my autographed copy.
Get a copy
Here
Back in the summer of 2020 I created a brief video intended to sooth and distract
My recommendation: Turn up the volume, select fullscreen,
Besides his musical artistry, Tony accomplished this stunning effort of
During the break between sets at the Tony Rice Unit show, I approached Tony and
pulled out the plastic bag with the Accutron watch parts. One of the guys asked
what it was. I think it was Wyatt Rice who said, "I know exactly what it is!"
The instant Tony saw it through double thick plastic, on a dark balcony, he
identified it as a Model 218!
I asked Tony if he'd fix it up and give it a new home; and all I'd ask is that
he email me and tell me when he gets it running. He shook my hand and said,
"Well, bless your heart. I'll get it running alright."
A little after 11 PM on May 16, just 3 days after the show, as I was getting
ready for bed, the phone rang. There seemed to be a bad connection so I didn't
immediatley recognize the voice on the other end. He repeated his name, Tony Rice.
I was mad at myself for not realizing it was him!
He had already gotten the watch running, completely polished up, and reassembled.
He explained that the problem was the battery manufacturers currently make batteries with
more voltage than in the past, causing too high an amplitude to the tuning fork coils.
But interestingly, the adjustment is not electrical, but mechanical.
He explained the details, but lost me.
He also said that even with the quartz movements ("and you can have your Patek Philippes")
nothing can still compete with the time-keeping accuracy of the Accutron.
Tony explained that he used to be into photography, but stopped when the digital age came in.
But he had a pretty good cell phone and he would email me a picture of the reconditioned watch.
(See the After shot below.) He thanked me again and reassured me the watch has a good home.
I'll never forget that phone call....Thank you, Tony
To listen to recordings of Tony in my collection,
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February 11, 2021