Looking Back at California Autumn
Tony Rice gathered all-star group of musicians for special project

By Paulette Isaacs

Some friends and I were all discussing our favorite musicians this weekend, and even in that group of eleven, Tony Rice came up over and over – either for his vocals or guitar legacy. No doubt, there are countless others whose appreciation for Tony Rice and his music is enormous.

Born in Danville, Virginia, Rice moved to California at an early age and began his interest in music, following the introduction to bluegrass by his father. Rice made a move to Kentucky in 1970 and joined the Bluegrass Alliance, and then went on to J.D. Crowe and the New South. Ricky Skaggs joined the New South in 1974, and the all-acoustic recording made shortly thereafter became a Rounder record label’s best-selling project.

David Grisman and Tony Rice made acquaintance in the mid-1970s, and soon, Rice was heading back to California after leaving J.D. Crowe’s group to be in Grisman’s all-instrumental group. It was during his tenure with Grisman that Tony Rice embarked on the journey of studying chord theory, reading charts and defining his own style beyond the traditional bluegrass guitar sound.

Taking his music to the masses as a solo artist beginning in 1979, Rice pursued recording some folk and guitar-centered projects. Then, much to the delight of bluegrassers everywhere, the Bluegrass Album Band was formed in 1980 with Rice, J.D. Crowe, Todd Phillips, Bobby Hicks and Doyle Lawson. The group’s goal was to bring the bluegrass standards to the forefront and have since recorded six collections.

With over 30 albums to date, volumes more can be said about this extraordinary musician with the killer vocals and his unmistakable guitar riffs, runs, and leads. But, as with all musicians who make music a part of them, we’ll just let his music do the talking.

For the 1990 Rebel Records recording, California Autumn, Tony Rice brings a collection of songs and tunes that quickly become Rice classics. Musicians on the project include: Tony Rice (guitar, lead vocals), Tom Gray (bass), Mike Auldridge (Dobro), Larry Rice (mandolin), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Ricky Skaggs (fiddle, viola, mandolin, harmony vocals), John Starling (guitar, harmony vocals), J.D. Crowe (banjo), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro).

Title track, “California Autumn,” written by Tony Rice has a relaxing quality about it. The comparison is made between a California autumn and a broken heart.

Tony’s brother, Larry Rice, penned “Mr. Poverty,” which brings human qualities to the condition of poverty. “His children were so hungry, they couldn’t even smile. The kids next door made fun of them, laughing all the while, while mother had gone to the store to buy a loaf of bread that had to last a week” is one of the most poignant lines in the song.

Cy Coben’s “Good Woman’s Love” is certainly a song that is given life by Rice’s confident vocals. The lyrics speak of a man’s desperation and hopelessness in life until he fell in love and that love gave him hope and purpose.

One of the songs Rice is most identified with is Jimmy Skinner’s “You Don’t Know My Mind.” The vocal melody employed by Tony is bluesy in fashion and very powerful. The gist of the song is, that even though folks may do many things, but unless you know their reasoning behind it all, they’ll be misunderstood.

“Georgia on My Mind” (writer: Hoagie Carmichael) has somewhat of a jazz feel to the lyrics and melody. Instrumentation on the song is sparse, adding to the appeal.

Instrumentals on California Autumn are: “Bullet Man” (Tony Rice), “Billy in the Lowground,” “Beaumont Rag,” and “Red Haired Boy” (traditional), “Alone and Forsaken” (Hank Williams), “Bugle Call Rag” (Schoebel-Meyer-Pettis), and “Scarborough Fair” (Simon & Garfunkel).

More information on Tony Rice may be obtained at his website: www.tonyrice.com.

Local musicians are invited to send in your materials for a review by Paulette Isaacs. They may be mailed to 286 Phillip Road, Elk Park, NC 28622. Sorry, materials cannot be returned. For more information, you may email dpisaacs@localnet.com.