Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jan for having the interviews with Tony during the last year of Tony's life. And Thank You for posting the live music of Tony and all the other bluegrass memories!
Kindest regards to Tony's family and close friends. Thank you again Jan for this recording, it brings me great comfort to listen, as does everything the man recorded for our listening pleasure. I had a good childhood, just can't remember my life as well as after the time I discovered Tony Rice Music, aka Rounder 00044. Thank you to the family of Tony who supported him and his music and helped create the environment that allowed him to fly down his chosen path. Thank you to all the incredible musicians who played with Tony Rice giving the world endless years of enjoyment and inspiration.
Happy Birthday to Tony. The most mesmerizing and brilliant musician ever. Just dazzling. When I am stressed, upset or need to relax his music always puts me at peace.
Mr. Tony Rice has to be respected as much for his attitude toward the art of making music as well as his virtuosity in performing and arranging. I don't know him personally, but he never fails to humbly give credit to his influences and explain his rationale for his work during any interview I've heard or article I've read about his work. A real artist in my opinion. This level of performance always commands my respect. I've always admired his wardrobe on stage with the shirt, tie, and jacket. A class act all the way.
Tony could make a million a minute as a narrator with that voice. I love his input on music and his words on playing live and dealing with fans make perfect sense. Such a fine heart in the man as well. Enjoy your rest picker you definitely earned it.
Absolute class act, Tony Rice. I've seen him 19 times, spoke once to say hello and he smiled graciously. i would hope that people would buy Tony's music, don't pirate it. he's given his life to mastering guitar for us to hear, the least we can do is pay him for his work.
Thank you for this conversation. I've been listening to Tony's music since the early 1980s. Heard him in person with Peter Rowan on a sweltering hot July night in 2008 just down the road from Colgate University at an old opera house. Poor Peter was sweating bullets but Tony was as cool as a early spring breeze. That was a special night I'll never forget! Tony just slipped away after the show so I never met him but that's okay. Listening Peter's songs and funny stories, and Tony's guitar was enough for summer's night.
There were Two Voices we loved: Tony, and Clarence's D 28. Both thrill my soul. And how, when Tony's voice failed, that awesome Martin carried him along! Oh! The memorries!
I met Tony in his prime at the Paramount Center in Bristol, VA/TN. I stepped through a curtain, heard his guitar, walked in a small spot of stage. He was alone, warming up. He was a perfect gentleman. Posed for a picture. Then said, if you want to meet a great guitar player my brother is on the other wing. Thank God that wasn't my only one on one meeting with Tony. Great job Jan, I like the way you do things. I'll meet you somewhere.
12:00 Tony tells exactly what's wrong with the new generation of bluegrass musicians. Maybe ppl will listen when Tony says that ppl need to calm down & work as a team instead of everyone trying to showboat through a song as fast as they can while trying to play every note they can. Every part of a machine works together to compliment some other part. If bluegrass band mentality worked like this today, there would be tighter sounding bands out there. 2 good rules of thumb: If you can't hear the instrument & vocals going on around you, then you're playing too loud!! The second rule is as stated by fiddler Mike Hartgrove concerning fills around the vocal. "Honor thy lead singer." Lastly, slow down a little & enjoy the music. There was already one "Wreck of the 97." Bluegrass doesn't need every band sounding like a runaway train. Awesome video with great advice from a true artist!!!!!!! Tony seems a lot more down to earth than many ppl give him credit for. I don't blame him. I'd want a break from it too!!!!!!!
Very good comments... wisdom... Mike Hartgrove is another musician who has a very personal tone/voice on the fiddle. He gets some of the best tone out of a fiddle that I've ever heard. A consummate musician...
@@JanJohanssonmusic Very well stated!! I met Mike a few years ago in Williamsburg, KY while playing banjo for a local band. He payed me a great compliment. He said he heard me from the bus while I was on stage & thought it was Terry Baucom filling in for a local band. Talk about a flattering comment for a banjo player. We talked for a long time about the fundamentals of music. He's a cool guy & a very knowledgeable musician. He never has got the credit he deserves.
This is what I hate about when legends speak on taste, style, etc. A lot of older pickers who don't like what "the kids" are doing try to hold it over everyone's heads like it's some kind of holy decree. I've always liked Tony's material and always will, but on most mid tempo to uptempo songs I'm just not trying to sound like him, and neither are most players I know. I like a more percussive rhythm style than Tony's, I like louder, more in-your-face arraignments and I like hot picking. There's nothing wrong with that, and I resent being told there is. Taste is subjective. What I find beautiful and melodic, you might think of as noise, and that's ok! But no one gets to tell me that their way is "better." Your way is how to play YOUR music, not mine. People forget music is about self expression. Our emotional connection with he music might be different than yours, but it's no less valid. We did the time and practice, and we get to decide how we use it. It's no one else's business. And on top of it all, y'all are being the exact same way as the older timers in your day were to you. When melodic banjo came out people talked about it like it was garbage. "Too noisy, not enough dynamic control." Nonsense. People just resent something different than the music that's close to their hearts, and spend their time dragging people down who want to do their own thing instead of working on their own sound and doing that instead. "Bands don't work together." Nonsense. How could we do all those "hot licks" if we didn't support each other, both in a band situation and showing new things to each other? "There's already one wreck of the ol 97." Yeah? Well I'll write two for you, just for that attitude. The kids are off your lawn, so just let us play already.
How in the world have i missed these interviews with Tony? i'm so glad this popped up in my feed i only wish i had seen it sooner. Thank You for leaving these up.
So glad to hear Tony comment on the state of music today! There is physics to modulating air waves and these new kids just don't have the nuance of live performance like Tony and the players he hung with! Memories of early 90's... Delaware Blue Grass Fest @ Cowtown, NJ... I was one of the stage hands at night... all star jam with Tony, Ricky Skaggs, Dan Crary... I think JD Crowe was on banjo too! Talk about sonic harmony??? Awesome night!!! P.S. good sound man running the mics! Thanks Tony!
Tony, it is so great to just hear you talk. We crossed paths only a couple times and each time you were a complete gentle man. The last time was when I texted some research I came across on spasmotic disphonia to your website. You went out of your way to look me up and give me a phone call. That was awesome. I have a friend in Clearwater that has the same affliction. Unfortunately he isn't speaking as well as you are here. I'm so glad to hear you talk! The first time we met was in Rochester NY, 90 or 91. It's a little embarrassing. You were cool enough to hang out with me and a friend backstage. Del and the band was opening as I recall. At one point you even let me play your guitar. My girlfriend at the time was so pissed off at me the she wouldn't come back stage. As I was playing your D-28, my buddy John came in and said, Cyndi's out there pacing back and forth cursing your name. You said, "I would't want my guitar to come between a woman and her man" Well, it was a memorable incident to say the least. You might be thinking "That was the fucknut that I actually let play my guitar!" Of course I couldn't make it sound as good as you. But later, my mandolin player buddy who was a nurse at a local hospital was in a room with a patient and the Andy Griffith show was on; and Bob turned to the patient and said, "Oh my God, my friend played that guitar!" Thank you Tony; not just for those two incidences, but all of your music. I mean since the 80's, you've been blowing me away! Best wishes sincerely, Eric
I think the main point T is trying to get across here is, stop trying to sound like Tony Rice and find your own sound.. which is so difficult, cause we all wanna sound like T. So glad this recording is available, have listened to it more than once this past year.. Now with his passing, it means even more.
What an inspiration to so many musicians! Tony and Wyatt set the bar for guitarist! As for rhythm players, I believe Wyatt can stand toe to toe with anyone!
@@peterfrost6507 actually I am fortunate, I personally know Wyatt and I get to learn from him one on one from time to time... So I should be clear, yes his rhythm is second to no one, but his lead Solo's are freaking awesome as well. He definitely is my favorite guitarist!!! Well Tony ties with him 😁...
Thank you so much for posting this, Jan. I have been following your posts for years and this is invaluable for myself and surely countless others. So awesome just to hear his voice, and then his passion speaking about dynamics and being "in tune" with everybody. Please continue to post any conversations with Tony, and any classic TRU, BAB, Allstars or whatever you may have... and we'll continue lapping it up! :D
I appreciate your kind words, Dan... Tony seems interested in doing a series of interviews... or conversations,,, it's not a prepared interview but pretty loose ...
Jan Johansson I was talking with my picker friend Todd Grebe and he said if this was a podcast it would be immensely popular. I know these are loose conversations, but there is serious wisdom in his words!
Enjoyed your interview. Thanks for sharing. You took me a little down memory lane, too. I am from the mid 70's in Santa Cruz. I remember when Daryl Anger used to jam on Pacific Ave. on a sunny afternoon 🙂. I can relate to Tony's experience. I, too, had to reinvent myself after falling out of the music business. Unfortunately, some of the rudeness he encountered in some fans could also be said of some of those who pulled the strings in the business in those days, particularly towards an independently minded woman. I didn't do well with them. I went back to school, fell into mechanical drafting for awhile, and wound up in medicine. Retired EMT, studied nursing. I traveled all over much of the US when I was young, playing little gigs and working odd jobs... the traveling does become grueling after awhile. Glad to hear Tony's voice sounds much better. For the sake of learning and healing I'd be interested to learn how he did it. I'd like to share a book, for what it's worth, both Tony and Pam might find helpful to further your perspective. It's called "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by a retired oncological surgeon, Bernie Siegel. It was intended to help cancer patients, but is appropriate for anyone dealing with chronic illness, or simply anyone interested in the concept of healing. You just have to think outside the box a little. He has a little bit different approach, addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. He's written a couple of them. I remember this one as one of his better ones. Will always cherish the good times and great music. Best of luck to you all.
He figured out if he hummed first threw his mouth he could speak for a while, but he would get tired. The real healing came when I reminded him of what a healing song Amazing Grace was, and the instances in my life I had seen my grandmother sing it to heal sick babies and children as she rocked them. Once saving a 2 month old estimated to expire in 45 min. The singer and rocker realized the cause and removed it from the baby boy. He was instantly healed in the hospital. He sang it for me quietly, and I secretly taped it on my cell phone. I played it back and it was the shocking encouragement he needed to keep singing and speaking. His singing voice was back from it and he could sing Urge For Going like he did on the record. But he sadly said one day, I just can't sing at the volume I did when I recorded it. I startled him by asking, "when did he ever record any takes of it without a microphone?" He thought a few seconds and then cracked up laughing., and replied, "Never", adding. "I never recorded anything on,my records without a microphone" But he told me to not tell anyone he did not want expectations beyond those he could meet utill he was sure he was ready and had all his material he wanted to secretly record at home in his studio, like he did on Church Street Blues". He was not kidding at the IBMA Hall of Fame induction when he said he hoped if he could keep the momentum up, so one day perhaps he could again express himself poetically in music. At that point he could softly sing amazing Grace and urge for going in perfect pitch. He just had to use more concentration to speak. He had 2 songs chosen for his new album. The first was a cowboy song Larry Keel wrote. ( I haven't heard it yet. so can't recall the title, sadly) Then one of songs I wrote the music and lyrics to myself. He said, "That is the second song I will record myself on my new album right there" I let him choose the title and he chose it to be. Although I never mentioned his name it was a song about Doc Watson's ability him use his other sences and know things other people did not have the ability to realize even though they could see, hear, and feel things they touched. Those sences in Doc were bionic, for lack of a better term. He knew my hair was black and in ringlets, the first time i kissed his cheek "hello". He knew my foot steps and if I wore heals or flats. I could not sneak up on him, he knew how my walk sounded. He knew if I used my shampoo and conditioner st home, or had to use the hotels, so he would say "You came from home" or "You have had to stay in several motels this spell, haven't you Little Tony?" He knew my perfume and would Remember their names. And most puzzling of all, he knew if I was looking for Tony. He would hear me ask someone if they knew which room he was in, over all the noise backstage and onstage at Merlefest. He would either tell Tony, if he was in the room with him, or dispatch someone to tell him and give my approximate location, All while he sat visually weightless, in a crowded room with others talking. But it wasn't just me, he knew the same about everybody. He just didn't tell them, or gossip. He was just more honest with me about the ability, because he knew my cousin Susan was blind and could do the same things. She could not touch any color though and tell you what the color was. That's how Doc wired his own house. He could touch a wire and tell the color. He taught Tony how to do it some. One day at his house he said, "Come over here Tony, and touch my new car, and see how red the paint is on it" He said now touch the blue on your car. Tony said "Wow Doc they are totally different temperatures". His response was " That's right son... and I told you I would show you how I wired my house some day too..didnt I? You just have to learn the difference in the surface the color is on"
I loved to hear that Tony constantly revisited Nine Pound Hammer and Freeborn Man from the '92 Merlefest lineup. Those are some of my favorite videos ever. RIP TR.
I don't know how you got this but this is fantastic! Many of us truly admire Tony's playing, career and his humility!. I think you really captured a lot- more than some have heard before. Thanks much.
What I’ve experienced as a newer guitar player that is a huge Tony Rice fan, I think part of the problem is that one person on a stage or in a group playing louder than they should can cause the whole group to play to loudly. Most people have no thought as to what the tone of their guitar is, the tone of anyone else’s guitar or mandolin or fiddle. It isn’t just the musicianship that is at jeopardy with musicians now, with playing to loud singers have to sing louder and that destroys vocal tone. I’ve always thought the way Tony does since I started, really, but he was able to open my eyes to what that feeling really was. Tony Rice has so much wisdom, and the younger generation could learn so much from listening to Tony talk-not just play.
Great video. Love Tony's music and he's a great gentleman as well. I wore out a lot of guitar strings trying to half way play like him, and bought about a dozen guitars looking for the tone. Never got it, and gave up and decided to just sound like me. LOL Tony's the best!
I saw Jason Carter at the Down Home in JC TN when he first started with Del. Shit, he wasn't old enough to even get in. What a genius he's become over the years.
I guess the most important observation I made was "WHEN I get on stage again it will....." WHEN! Wow, thats cool. He thinks about it....maybe it will happen.
Hoosier Bud - I was thinking the same ... lets hope and pray that TR will be where’s able to come back. He’s told me several times that he’s not wanting to perform until HE fells ready.
Tony mentions his hands being so shot and playing with high action for so long, but everything I ever read mentions the action of the D 28 being super low. Was that a later change he made because of his hands ???
Ben Jammin - Good question. I just figured he was referring to the Bluegrass Alliance and J D Crowe & New South days. Next time I get a chance to talk to him I will fwd your question...
@Sean McCormick Yeah, it was a bit distracting, but hearing Tony's seemingly clear voice definitely made up for it. His advice about musicianship was something few bg artists think about these days.
@@jpcannon9329 I'm 68 born in July 1951, Tony was born in June. Tony, don't let the old man in when he comes knocking. I won't admit I'm tired to hell with the old man, knock but you're not getting in.
