Tony Rice’s musical style is a blend of flatpicking brilliance, emotional depth, and genre-blending innovation. His guitar work, characterized by clarity, speed, and melodic richness, set him apart. Rice’s ability to traverse bluegrass, jazz, folk, and even classical genres was revolutionary. His influence on current bluegrass guitarists is profound, with artists like Billy Strings often citing Rice as a primary influence. Billy Strings, in particular, carries Rice’s legacy forward, blending traditional bluegrass with modern influences in a way that mirrors his hero’s approach.

On this day, March 10th, 2024, we at Grateful Web honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Norman Blake, a musician whose influence has seeped deeply into the roots of American folk and bluegrass music. As we celebrate his birthday, it's a moment to reflect on the indelible mark he has left on the world of music through his distinctive playing style, his impressive longevity in the industry, and his remarkable body of work.

Craft Recordings celebrates bluegrass icon Tony Rice with a special vinyl reissue of his long-out-of-print classic, Church Street Blues. The acclaimed 1983 album finds the GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist, singer and songwriter interpreting an eclectic selection of modern and traditional folk songs, including Norman Blake’s “Church Street Blues,” Tom Paxton’s “Last Thing on My Mind” and Bob Dylan’s “One More Night.” An intimate, largely solo outing, Church Street Blues showcases Rice’s prowess on the guitar, as well as his versatility as a performer.

Growing up, 14-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist and singer Dan Tyminski wasn’t really a six-string picker, favoring mandolin or banjo when he joined the jam—until he heard Tony Rice, that is. Hearing Rice kick-off “Ten Degrees and Getting Colder” with J.D. Crowe and the New South for the first time, Tyminski was overtaken by the sound, forever changing his trajectory as a musician. Like the rest of the tight-knit bluegrass world, Tyminski was devastated by the loss of his hero in late 2020.

In the era of modern music, describing anybody as the “greatest of all time” is usually met with resistance—if for no other reason than the ever-evolving tastes of both musicians and fans—but if the topic is bluegrass guitar players, there’s a universally correct answer to “who’s the best”; the late, great Tony Rice.

In the era of modern music, describing anybody as the “greatest of all time” is usually met with resistance—if for no other reason than the ever-evolving tastes of both musicians and fans—but if the topic is bluegrass guitar players, there’s a universally correct answer to “who’s the best”; the late, great Tony Rice. Rice was unequivocally one of the most influential, inventive, and beloved musicians in all of bluegrass and Americana music, and after he passed away in late 2020, his songs and stylings continue to live on in the droves of musicians he inspired.

In the era of modern music, describing anybody as the “greatest of all time” is usually met with resistance—if for no other reason than the ever-evolving tastes of both musicians and fans—but if the topic is bluegrass guitar players, there’s a universally correct answer to “who’s the best”; the late, great Tony Rice. Rice was unequivocally one of the most influential, inventive, and beloved musicians in all of bluegrass and Americana music, and after he passed away in late 2020, his songs and stylings continue to live on in the droves of musicians he inspired.

After a long year of waiting to honor its 2020 class of inductees, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame will hold inductions for its 2020 and 2021 class on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The 2020 inductees, announced last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, included six nationally known and award-winning legends from North Carolina: The Briarhoppers, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Lawrence, Michael T Mauldin, Charles Whitfield, and the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

For the first time in its 49-year history, the celebrated RockyGrass bluegrass festival will offer a dynamic livestream. Produced by award-winning NOCOAST TV, the high-definition stream, which features 8 cameras and stereo audio will be available July 23rd to 25th, 2021.