Tony Rice Unit - Tipper

Tony Rice, Rickie Simpkins, Ronnie Simpkins, Jimmy Gaudreau, & Wyatt Rice

[@dragknuckle]

Tony Rice has the rare ability to play hot licks with the level of poetry usually only heard in ballads.

[@datsunlambchops4624]

Excellent metaphor!!

[@robertjackson9628]

7 years later, I repeat, what matters is good music, and my friend Mr. Tony knew all about that. We all loved him, right? I will miss him forever. Robert Jackson....Now 74.

[@francoispetit8687]

Deep in my French countryside, I am so sad to learn of the death of Tony, so elegant in his playing and his attitude. RIP

[@bennyshaversmusic590]

Tony Rice at the top of his game. He would chase the melody through anything.

[@guitarice]

In my opinion, Tony's the greatest flatpicker of all time. He is considered at or near the top in every category of comparison. Technique, speed, tone, timing, phrasing, influence, and diversity of material. All things considered, I think He's the man.

[@guitarice]

Cool song and just in case anyone doesn't know it, Tony wrote this tune and it's one of my favorites.

[@jamesmccarty8988]

What an incredible group of musicians! RIP Tony, we miss you.

[@akiwayneukonmaanahoa1590]

Hollywoodonrecord had the best comment and it should be brought to the top of the list here again.....HE/SHE said that most people who aren't musicians don't take bluegrass seriously. AMEN

[@johntrik]

No one can even come close to the taste,speed and accuracy of Tony Rice solos! Classic!!

[@mkismet87]

What a tricky little tune and they all pulled it off like they're taking a piss......musical magical talents....all of them!!

[@bluarcher5941]

that's just simply tearin' it up...all absolute masters. so good.

[@BoomBap_HipHop]

Thanks for the upload. Great melody line. Every now and then I come back to listen to this song. Tony Rice & Norman Blake one of my fav's. Greetings from Amsterdam.

[@billmacdonald4026]

Yes it was a good tune... I've known Tony since 1966...a good guy.

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

Not an average musician in lot...awesome display of high level work by all. Respect.

[@bud3094]

Wow! Wyatt is incredible! And the whole "unit!! Geeze! RIPTony Rice.. GOAT

[@poeta067]

Tony you are amazing, the best acoustic guitar player for me, i adore you. incredibile!!

[@grodisbollis4]

@KYBUCKMASTER Well spoken! I'm a guitar player myself and have been for many years. Only very few people can handle this kind of playing. Such flow and difficult harmonies.

[@strawman8]

Tony can tickle those strings and its real bluegrass for sure.Thanks for sharing.

[@TeddyRayThomas]

Tony & Wyatt, you have never failed to amaze me. Thank you for the good times...............

[@mablacol]

Tony è semplicemente FANTASTICO!!!FROM ITALY

[@cerimccoy]

They're all gunslingers!!!! Holy crap that's damn fine playing all round. Rhythmically sound as anything I've ever heard.

[@buckcarrolljr]

Awesome Tony Rice !!

[@fuggedaboudit223]

There never be another Tony Rice.

[@TheTieDyeChickenGuy]

Agreed, but Billy is doing a pretty good job at carrying that torch imo!

[@acousticguitar130]

Tony and Wyatt are awesome!!!! My guitar heros and just wonderful people!!!

[@jwilliams8210]

Fantastic guitar playing..

[@guitarice]

I'm not often a fan of flatpicking contest players. They usually sound to much alike for me. I prefer flatpicking in a more bluegrass setting, where rhythm is much more important. However, I like Roy Curry. The guy has more depth to his playing than most other contest players. Who is the best, really comes down to a personal taste contest. For me Tony Rice is the perfect player. Been number one to me for over twenty years, and he still is.

[@davidrivett7603]

Masterful playing by everyone. Tony Rice showed us how.

[@Kennymurraycampbell]

Incredible!! All great players.

[@flyawaytigers]

The first guitar solo is tiiiiiight!

[@guitarice]

Roy Curry does play in band situations a lot and that's probably why I like his playing. There are a handful of players at about Tony's technical level, but for me nobody sounds as good or as cool as he does. Like I've said, when you get to this elite level, it's a personal taste contest. And speaking of other great players, Wyatt Rice plays a great solo on this tune (Tipper) too.

[@lauriedouglas8524]

My jam! Want this as a ring tone!

[@bstimy]

Wyatt killed it. Tony Rice, the legend lives on!

[@martymcpeak4748]

Without a beloved dog this song might not have happened. And so many people fail to see Wyatt is as good a guitarist as his Brother

[@Douglasfaparanhos]

Anyone else in 2022?

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

I absolutely loved the Tony Rice Unit,and saw them on many occasions.Even been back stage with them,awesome down to earth people.

[@nancychace8619]

Superb!

[@bodford]

Tony's brother Wyatt ain't no slouch himself.

[@acousticguitar130]

Wyatt is freaking awesome!

[@69Curtdog]

@@acousticguitar130 He`s incredible!

[@acousticguitar130]

@@69Curtdog kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXWvgn2PjayZgas

[@ellikerdonald5660]

I wonder how many times he's been referred to a s 'Wild Rice' ?

[@blueseruser]

Tony is the man................!!!!!

[@rustystringsband804]

Tony is the man!!!

[@joshuahymer15]

The GOAT !!!

[@thiger89]

One of my first YT favourites, this.. RIP Tony Rice

[@MeadowsMusic]

Awesome, just amazing! And the mullets are to die for for...

[@jpcannon9329]

UNREAL HEAT

[@mrpoverty1582]

man wish I could hang out with tony awhile. love this tune

[@PaulCaruso53]

1:21...might be his finest solo ever considering all elements he brings with this one, though they are all amazing ....

[@danielibnz]

Agree, though there are several solos by Tony Rice that amaze me, after 20 years.... or more...

[@jessewilliams5281]

7

[@tristanlouthrobins]

It's an extraordainary solo. The speed, tone, precision and sense of harmony is just mind-blowing. It's Django Reinhardt by way of bluegrass.

[@LBM10030]

An amazing performance. Beautifully done IMO

[@mynameisdave613]

Shredding in a suit

[@Travisbryson1978]

Dang Wyatt go!!,!!

[@mrjoesd13]

sweetttttttttt,thats roots man..

[@wankatronic]

i have a hard time deciding who makes a better case for their instrument in their video: Jimmy for the mandolin, or Tony for the guitar. excellent performances by both.

[@chrismccrth0]

Tippers a great instrumental! Would like to hear another Tony Rice Unit album released! He's been playin with Pete Rowan for quite some time now - time for a change!!

[@allenhughes12]

That's the way you do it son!

[@thiger89]

fascinating how quickly the man plays on the little mandoline

[@guitarice]

The man announcing is the late/great John Hartford.

[@oui]

amen, zane!

[@glennardskynnard]

That fiddle player has a sweet mullet. Tony Rice is the bombs.

[@bmodextreme]

This isn’t even the golden age of the Simpkins mullet. In full force it’s quite splendid

[@jaretcarter5824]

Happy Birthday to The Man!! Tony Rice

[@john77905]

no the fiddle player does not suck.he does pretty darn fair. this is a great video thanks for posting it.

[@daniel60297]

I love tony rice music from Madrid Spain

[@1Grassmaster]

Tony Rice is a Guitar Picking Robot!

[@Tyotapickup]

damn TONY!

[@robsong1968]

I don’t leave a lot of messages . But I agree with EB 1:21 may be the best solo I’ve heard . And that right hand.......wow

[@danielibnz]

Fully agree. Tony Rice is one of a kind. Went to see him at Apes, NC, in 1993. I was amazed. He sang several songs by Gordon Lightfoot (who is my folk idol) and I felt I was in Heaven... Bought a couple of his CDs... Manzanita and some other one... Great memories...!!!

[@guitarice]

Speaking of bluegrass and popularity or lack of it.,., I was at a music festival this weekend and the popular music forms like Rap, rock, and classic rock had a couple of thousand in attendance. The bluegrass (which was on at the same time as some classic rock had about 100 people. Bluegrass might be doing some bit better, but it's got a long way to go to get the numbers that popular music gets.

[@NOSMOJEFF]

Oh YEA! Tony Rice Unit Ann Arbor, Michigan (The Ark)

[@TeddyRayThomas]

They cannot comprehend him...... they are either tone deaf, jealous or would like to see Bill Monroe & Jimmy Martin again! professional players were so envious of Tony during the 80's. I ask Jimmy Martin what he thought of Tony Rice's guitar picking. He said, "What do I think? I think I would like to take his hand, lay it on a rock and hit it with a sledge hammer!" end quote. The hell of it is the man was serious and cold about it.

[@johnmaisonneuve9057]

Yks!

[@marclalonde7395]

Does anyone know what brand of mandolin Jimmy is playing ?

[@raymondeaton5692]

NOBODY every picked up a D-28 or any facsimile and played it like Tony Rice!

[@jocwalk]

You mean the same movie that just happened to have created new interest in bluegrass and mountain music with the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Is that that movie you so tactfully referenced?

[@fractalbeef]

Thought I had the video on 2x speed but they are just that good. RIP

[@mysteryshrimp]

You are already missed, Tony.

[@misamiletic7743]

svira se ....odmah,,,

[@greekflatpicker]

Hell yeah!

[@dougsours1]

if there even exists a debate as to whether or not tony is a jazz or bluegrass player, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that he is both? Let's not lump him into 1 category because he makes his CAREER as a bluegrass player.

[@69Curtdog]

Listen to My favorite things and then tell me he cant play jazz and I`ll call you a liar.

[@alphacentauri8083]

He definitely borrows some ideas from jazz when it comes to key changes and a bit syncopation here and there and what not, but if you put him on stage with a bunch of jazz musicians you will see his limitations and he will probably be lost in the first four bars. That doesn't negate the fact that he is a creative virtuoso in his own right, but jazz is all about the phrasing. He wouldn't be able to hang with this nineteen year old "kid" playing acoustic jazz: watch?v=S9wAPAxnBSo Jazz is all about complex phrasing

[@69Curtdog]

tinian33 I wonder if that 19 yo kid could ''hang'' playing bluegrass?

[@alphacentauri8083]

69Curtdog probably not right away but with some serious practice...? Bluegrass is hard to play because it's based on playing lightning fast melodic lines, or "set pieces" like classical. But check out Angelo debarre, bireli, and paulus Schafer for some insane acoustic picking. Jaw dropping melodic lines.

[@anthonyfairchild797]

tinian33 Tony could master the guys you speak of styles before they could master his style of playing. The right hand of flatpicking is a lot more physically demanding because of the longer solos with more precise picking. Look up white house blues by Tony Rice and friends...it would be very hard if not impossible for ANY jazz player to ever build up his right hand to that of Tonys....sure... they may could play in short bursts...but not a 45 second break at that tempo.

[@brenchadpicks3]

Tony Rice named this tune after his dog

[@guitarice]

I still think Clooney is a big reason for the upsurge in bluegrass. The biggest song in the movie was probably Man Of Constant Sorrow with George mouthing the words. I see much more Mr. Clooney in popular magazines, tv, ect... than any one else in the movie. This is how I see it. Not proven, but it's what I believe. At any rate, I hope bluegrass can continue to be in the limelight for whatever reason.

[@waynelatham4281]

Tony doin' Clarence's D-28 proud

[@suhnami]

sick, dirty, awesome, wicked, tremendous, unreal, stupendous, brilliant, jaw dropping, what more can i say!?!?!?!?!?!

[@Bilco1969]

Day-um!!!!

[@jocwalk]

Tony's a fantastic guitarist, no doubt about it. Take a listen to Dixie Hoedown- Lone Mountain Band. The guitarist is the best I've ever seen in terms of drive, speed, improvisation, and, most importantly, tone. Check out Black Mountain Rag (jam) too. You may be familiar with Jack Lawrence from that video although I'm not crazy about his playing. All I'm saying is that there are LOTS of really good guitarists out there who more than come close to Tony Rice's ability.

[@martinwalters1954]

And the award for this years Great Moments in Making Fools of Rock goes to.....

[@robertjackson9628]

Well, music is like food. Who says anything is better (or "harder") than another? And really, who cares? Most musicians don't. I know when I hear good melody, and rhythm in time.We all know when we hear something good. Everything else is games...68 yr old lifetime grass player.

[@tompillion]

Now this is what I call great guitar picking (as well as mandolin); makes me feel undeserving to own a Martin. Also a good testement to using a microphone to get tone quality, rather than plugging in with a pick-up.

[@jottie77]

Wow

[@Felishamois]

+BluegrassLibrary Stunning musicianship! What year was this broadcast?

[@highrockramblers9998]

Probably in the later 80's or early 90's

[@darrelldawson8495]

Anyone who thinks Bluegrass ain't hard to play ain't playing it right!

[@jocwalk]

Don't you find it interesting that none of the movies listed are within the last 10 years? That's because you looked up information that was compiled in 1998 (on March 3rd), before "O'Brother" even came out. Last I read (years ago), "O'Brother" sold over 7 million copies within six months of the release of the movie which would put it on your list. I had heard on a special on PBS about a year ago that "O'Brother" now topped the list so I assumed the information was now accurate.

[@xwillxfrostx]

Yes, great performances...but for that particular question sir, there is no option.

[@ShaShaZane88]

Damnit man...look at that right hand. That's where the business is. "whoooeee dat was a mighty fine a' pickin' i'da tell ya'"

[@TeddyRayThomas]

I know!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@guitarice]

Oh Brother, I believe helped put bluegrass in the public eye more because George Clooney was in it more than because of the music itself. I'm not downing the music, I love some bluegrass, but the music got a huge push from George. Anyway, if people liked the music, that's great no matter the reason or reasons.

[@mandobaron]

yeeeehaw. also got to love the hartford intro

[@ausednes]

I don't know how they do it.

[@Kjetilstorm]

I miss him already. keep pickin in the heavens

[@banjobilly32]

Now that's some Tony Rice pickin!!

[@flyawaytigers]

He was commenting on the little sadie vid that he played it like some banjo player did - so maybe he tries to fill that role somewhat and not have to compete.

[@tristanlouthrobins]

RIP, you deadset legend.

[@silentnoise74]

Im curious to hear what he would sound whith a electrical guitar and a whawha pedal.

[@billmacdonald4026]

I heard him on an electric guitar about 1966... and he was good then.

[@Vileinist]

3 people miss the kickass dobro solo

[@DAVEY500MUSIC]

after seeing this it makes a guy want to throw his guitars in a bon-fire

[@blueseruser]

I've said that many times, Tony is THE MAN, and the rest are no slouches either!!

[@jocwalk]

I don't think Clooney had much to do with the success. "Fargo" by the Coen brothers was highly successful too. "Intolerable Cruelty" by the Coens and also with Clooney flopped after "O'Brother." Most folks I know who saw the movie said Tim Blake Nelson ("Delmar") made the movie. That there was an entire music tour (Down from the Mountain Tour) with performers from the soundtrack that did well tells me the music stood on its own merits.