North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Inducts Tony Rice, Briarhoppers
Photos By Gary Hatley
In a celebration to recognize the amazing musical heritage of their state, the NC Music Hall of Fame inducted its newest members during a red carpet event in Kannapolis, NC, on October 21. Since no ceremony was held last year due to the global pandemic, a “double-induction” of eight new members occurred, which included bluegrass icons, Tony Rice for 2021 and the Briarhoppers for 2020. The 12th annual awards gala, held in the historic Gem Theater, opened with the artists walking the red carpet to their songs. The night air filled with the sound of Rice singing and picking “More Pretty Girls Than One” prior to the arrival of three generations of Rices, Pam (Tony’s wife), India (Tony’s daughter), and Talbott (Tony’s grandson). Since Rice was being honored posthumously, his family was present to emblematize their loved one.
As she entered, Pam Hodges Rice, shared, “Tony wanted everybody to take what they could (from his playing) and expand it to something on their own. He wanted to be a point of light from the greatest light there is; creation.”
Following a video presentation on the guitar wizard’s life, Rice’s widow, accompanied by their offspring on stage, accepted her late husband’s award.
“O-si-yo” she began by saying hello in Cherokee. “Wa-do, tsi-sa”, or thank you, Jesus, she spoke into the microphone. Then in English, “God bless you all. Thank you so much,” were Pam Rice’s brief, but emotional and heartfelt words.
“I did that (spoke in their native language) out of respect for Tony’s grandparents who were Cherokee. I had been contacted by elders and Cherokee speakers. They had already purchased their tickets to attend as soon as they went on sale. One came to the red carpet waving to confirm they were all present. As soon as I said Si-yo they stood,” his wife of over 30 years and longtime family friend explained in a phone interview following the induction ceremony.
The program stated, “Tony Rice did for the acoustic guitar what Jimi Hendrix did for the electric guitar—make it express itself in ways that it hadn’t been known beforehand to be capable of.” A page-long bio described his flatpicking style and gave highlights of his musical career (with an accompanying picture of a smiling Tony Rice with guitar) in the booklet given to attendees.
The video depicted Rice’s professional music journey with scenes from his early performances at Camp Springs Bluegrass Festival with the Bluegrass Alliance and JD Crowe and the New South to his time with the David Grisman Quintet and the Bluegrass Album Band, plus his stints with Jerry Garcia and Grisman; Peter Rowan, Bryn and Billy Bright; and Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen (Tony, Larry, Chris, and Herb).
The guitar master developed a huge following. In the August 1989 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited, Logan Neill wrote, “Perhaps no other single artist in this decade has had the impact on the broad genre of contemporary acoustic music than Tony Rice.”
In addition to his unique flatpicking style, Rice had a distinctive baritone voice and was recognized for his lead singing. In the early 90’s, he was diagnosed with Muscle Tension Dysphonia which constricted the muscles around his voice box, thus ending his singing career. The last time he sang in public was during the 1994 Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. “Guys, this is it,” he stated mid-set. “I have to shut it down.”
Tony Rice was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Though he hadn’t sung in nearly 20 years, Rice spoke miraculously clearly as he accepted his award. Then the Manzanita Band performed. The all-star ensemble included Tony and his brother, Wyatt, along with Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and others. It was an unforgettable moment during the awards ceremony in Raleigh.
The guitar hero continued to tour as an instrumentalist until he developed “tennis elbow” in 2014. Rice then made the difficult decision to stop performing because he didn’t want his physical limitations to disappoint his audiences. The iconic picker and singer passed away from natural causes in his home outside of Reidsville, NC, on Christmas Day, 2020. He was 69.
Following Rice’s death in an article in The New Yorker, Skaggs recalled his friend as “the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last fifty years.”
Pam reflected fondly on her husband’s life and his personal achievement. “Tony was sober for the last 19 years of his life. He carried his bronze chip (from AA) in his pocket.” Her love and admiration for him remains. “It seems Tony is always still with me, spiritually.”
“It was truly a befitting honor for the greatest acoustic guitar player in the world. I was happy to be in attendance with many others to honor Tony and his life’s work. He surely made a big positive difference in the music we love so well. I was reminded of Tony’s words regarding Bluegrass Music at an IBMA annual awards show saying that there is plenty of room ‘within the pillars of Bluegrass.’ He was intimating you can’t just play any kind of music and call it bluegrass. Now bluegrass finally has its ‘pillars.’ Thank you, Tony. May God rest his soul,” shared promoter, Milton Harkey, who launched the Bluegrass Album Band tour in 1983.
Walking in to their version of “Love Please Come Home,” the other bluegrass artists to be inducted during the eclectic music ceremony were the legendary Briarhoppers. Formed in 1934 to perform on Charlotte’s WBT radio, they are the longest continuously performing band in the United States. Throughout the years, key members of the band have included Arval Hogan (Kristin Scott Benson’s grandfather), Arthur Smith, Fred Kirby, and Earl Scruggs (already a NC HOF member) substituted for a short time on banjo.
Following their award presentation, the current Briarhoppers (Don Murray—rhythm guitar, Allen Shadd—lead guitar, Zach Lemhouse—fiddle, Erik Svenson—banjo, and Tom Warlick—bass) took to the stage for a performance.
Since their first radio show, the band petitions the crowd, “Do you know what time ‘hit is’?” The audience responds, “Hit’s Briarhopper time!”
As their set began, Warlick enthusiastically welcomed all. “Howdy neighbors! We’re here to play some music!” Then he asked the iconic question and the audience responded on cue.
Featuring their traditional string music and folksy humor, the quintet launched into “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie,” their theme song since 1934.
Warlick offered up lively banter. “We were one of the most popular shows on the radio because we came on after the Lone Ranger.” He also teased, “Here’s an instrumental you may not have heard because our CDs aren’t selling much.”
The bassist, who also penned, The WBT Briarhoppers: Eight Decades of a Bluegrass Band Made for Radio, in 2007, commanded the stage even though he is currently undergoing dialysis while awaiting a second kidney transplant.
Allen Shadd reflected the morning after, “Last night was a great evening, I was proud to be there with The Briarhoppers to be a part of their induction. As a guitarist, to be inducted on the same night as Tony Rice was a very special honor.”
Tony Rice and the Briarhoppers join other notable Tarheel bluegrass musicians in the NC HOF such as Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Merle Watson, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. The NC Music Hall of Fame is located at 600 Dale Earnhardt Blvd, Kannapolis, NC.
