Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story

by Tim Stafford, Caroline Wright (Editor)

Biography of guitarist Tony Rice

Genres: Music, Biography

315 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Rick]

Excellent book! If I could give it ten stars I would. Tony Rice is without question the best acoustic guitarist out there. His work in bluegrass, folk, and even acoustic jazz was groundbreaking and in the 1970's and 80's he defined those genres of music on the guitar. This book tells his story. It's a great biography----but told very different;y from the way most bios are written. Broken into several chapter, each starts off with a written reflection from Tony of several pages that gives his POV on that part of his life. What then follows are several pages of comments from a VERY wide variety of friends and relatives that give their perspective on his life.

The last parts of the book is an analysis of his instruments--especially the old D-28 that once belonged to the legendary Clarence White that Tony was able to purchase after Clarence's death. There is also a chapter devoted to the kinds of picks and strings that have helped Tony get the sound he is famous for. The book closes with a chapter of short comments from friends that discuss Tony's take on such things as his animals, spirituality, and many more personal things.

Overall, a great book for music fans---and especially guitar fans for whom Tony Rice has been such an inspiration.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening. Sure wish I'd seen more of Tony Rice.

[Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the format of this book. Tim Stafford, the co-author of this book, was performing with his group, Blue Highway, at the Down Home in Johnson City, TN, where I bought this book. The book, with an introduction by Ricky Skaggs, is like driving with Tony and talking while he's going to the next gig, talking to his fellow musicians and family and friends at the gig, and then going home to Pam and the dogs and looking through family photo albums. Even with his well-known shyness, you get a feeling for the man, his strengths, flaws, and humanity. You also appreciate the deep dive into the history of his guitar, "the Antique", how he developed his sound and style of New Acoustic music, and the appreciation Tony had for precision in his life.

This was published in 2010, about 15 years after he stopped singing publicly due to his dysphonia. I was saddened, but also inspired to see his 2013 IBMA induction, where he overcame his dysphonia in an incredibly powerful and moving acceptance speech that left me in tears. This book is a welcome tribute to a legendary performer.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little long and repetitive. Several of the interviewees said the same things and the interviews were out of chronological order. I would have preferred the narrative to be a bit clearer. Otherwise, good book about a great musician. Wish I could have seen him before he passed.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about my favorite guitar player and someone I’ve tried unsuccessfully to emulate in my playing. Very insightful and sad in many ways about a complex and brilliant yet troubled artist. Definitely worth the read, I didn’t want to put it down.

[Cory Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the life and career of one of the greatest acoustic guitarists. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I didn’t like how it’s formatted. I wanted more of the interview sections with Tony Rice, and fewer sections with blurbs from people he worked with over his career.

[John O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a must read for fans of Tony Rice and that era of music, and also the most discombobulated book I’ve ever finished.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like bluegrass, acoustic guitars and the fiery flatpicking of Tony Rice, this is a good one for you.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Tony Rice since the early 1970s, when he first recorded with J.D. Crowe and The New South. But it wasn't until I happened to be in the Rizzoli Bookstore in Watertower Place when I heard an album they were playing - (It was a Dave Grisman, and and I took it home for the princely sum of $25.)that I paid attention to him. It was Me & My Guitar that made me fall in love with him. (That album was therapy for me during a very low period.)

This book chronicles an amazing musician and tells the real story behind the myths surrounding his rather guarded life.

The format took some getting used to, but I enjoyed reading the insights provided by the people who played music with him, his family and the general commentary about who this man really is.

When I read one account by a man who was intending to end his life until he heard Tony Rice on the radio, I understood completely. The late Bill Vernon once told me, "When I feel good, I want to hear bluegrass. When I feel bad, I HAVE to hear bluegrass." If one can extend that to the kind of acoustic music selected by Tony Rice that expands that a bit, then it is entirely reasonable for the man to add "Music Therapist" to his resume!

Here is what I learned: he's shy. He's battled alcoholism. He's naturally skinny as a rail and eats like a horse. He has arthritis that is hampering his ability to play. It took him some tries, but he finally married the right person - someone who gets him and can deal with it. He's a skilled Accutron watch technician.

And that besides being born in the same year, we like a lot of the same music.

I think this was a well-done book and I'm glad TR agreed to participate because that made it legitimate. I think they were fair to him and presented the warts and all aspects of who he is. At the same time, they were respectful and didn't delve into areas that didn't really need exposure. (Long time fans know all the dirt, anyway.)

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has ever listened to his music and instantly felt the bond that so many of us have. He doesn't like the adoring fans gushing over him, so I'm just going to treasure that poster Bill Vernon got him to autograph for me at the Prism Coffeehouse, and be glad that I was in too much awe to bother him for it myself!

[TC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite possibly the WORST biography I've ever read. I absolutely love Tony Rice and find his life fascinating, but this sucked... Writing style, order of events, organization of supplemental material, and personal anecdotes are all absolutely terrible. Each chapter is essentially written twice, making much of it completely redundant. Not to mention the use of character-spacing, enlarged photos, and oversize font to "fill the book out." I'm sorry Tony, the co-authors did not do your story justice...

[Ron Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the Tony Rice Autobiography/biography/memoir called Still Inside. Not only is it a penetrating look into Tony's life and times... it's also an amazing account of how some of the most cutting edge acoustic bands were born in the seventies.. i.e. J.D. Crowe, David Grisman Quintet, Bela Fleck and all his incarnations, Allison Krauss, Emilou Harris, John Carlini, Tony Rice, Grisman, and Jerry Garcia, Vasser Clements, on and on. Pick it up and have a great read... I couldn't put it down.

[Larry Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was waiting a while to read this and wasn't disappointed. Really interesting how the book was constructed. You got different (sometimes opposing) viewpoints from Tony and his friends / bandmates. I also loved the timeline in the back of the book.

[Archie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb. A must read for every TR fan.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book about the master guitar player and one time singer