Tony Rice is a noted guitarist, song writer and vocalist.
Considered to by many to be the most important guitarist in contemporary bluegrass, Rice built upon the pioneering work of Clarence White to develop a highly complex and harmonically rich playing style.
Rice first achieved wide notice for his work with J.D. Crowe in the early to mid 1970s. By the late 1970s his Manzanita album was released, becoming one of the most important recordings in the development of modern bluegrass music.
He is especially noted for his work with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor, Peter Rowan, and his younger brother, Wyatt Rice.