Norman Blake and Tony Rice
Band · Active 1979–present · Nashville/Asheville region
Classic Bluegrass
Norman Blake and Tony Rice's two duet albums for Rounder Records are regarded as landmarks of two-guitar playing — the pairing of two generations of bluegrass flatpickers, each with a distinct voice (Blake's old-time and folk-influenced approach; Rice's jazz-inflected progressive style) meeting on common ground in Carter Family, Delmore Brothers, and original material.
- Blake, born 1938 in Chattanooga, was a veteran of the Johnny Cash TV show, John Hartford's Aereo-Plain band, and extensive Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline) and Kris Kristofferson sessions. Rice, born 1951, had emerged through J.D. Crowe's New South and the David Grisman Quintet (see separate entries).
- First duet album, simply titled Blake & Rice (Rounder, 1987), paired the two in sparse arrangements with Blake's wife Nancy Blake contributing cello and vocal on select tracks.
- Repertoire drew deeply from pre-bluegrass sources: “Church Street Blues” (an old Blake composition that Rice later made a signature), “Little Maggie,” “Don't Let Your Deal Go Down,” “Rockingham Cindy,” Carter Family material, and traditional fiddle tunes played as two-guitar arrangements.
- Follow-up Norman Blake and Tony Rice 2 (Rounder, 1990) continued the same format with more original and traditional material; highlights include “Wildwood Flower,” “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” and “New Camptown Races.”
- Both albums were recorded simply — two guitars with minimal overdubs — emphasizing timing, tone, and the conversational interplay between Blake's old-time precision and Rice's jazz-inflected improvisations.
- The records were essential documents of where Rice came from stylistically. Blake was one of Rice's major influences, and hearing them trade breaks showed Rice rooted in the traditional flatpicking lineage beyond his progressive explorations.
- Both albums remain in print and are frequently cited as essential listening for acoustic guitar students.
- Blake and Rice did not continue the collaboration on further albums, but both contributed to related projects: Blake appeared on Tone Poems (Grisman/Rice, 1994), and Rice's Unit recordings featured Blake occasionally.
- Norman Blake has his own entry (A0187); this entry focuses specifically on the two Rounder duo albums credited to the pairing.
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D-18 Song (Thank You, Mr. Martin)Blake and Rice 2 (1990)
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Gonna Lay Down My Old GuitarBlake and Rice (1987)
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Green Light on the SouthernBlake and Rice (1987)
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I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know WhenBlake and Rice (1987)
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I'm Not Sayin'Blake and Rice (1987)
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It's Raining Here this MorningBlake and Rice 2 (1990)
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Last Train From Poor ValleyBlake and Rice (1987)
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New River TrainBlake and Rice (1987)
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Ridge Road GravelBlake and Rice (1987)
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The Two SoldiersBlake and Rice 2 (1990)
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Fiddler's DramBlake and Rice (1987)
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Lost IndianBlake and Rice 2 (1990)
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New Chance BluesBlake and Rice (1987)
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Texas GalesBlake and Rice (1987)
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Norman BlakePlayed on recordings with Norman Blake and Tony Rice
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Tony RicePlayed on recordings with Norman Blake and Tony Rice
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Nancy BlakePlayed on recordings with Norman Blake and Tony Rice
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Doc WatsonPlayed on recording with Norman Blake and Tony Rice
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Mark SchatzPlayed on recording with Norman Blake and Tony Rice