Rev. D. C. Rice

Reverend D. C. Rice (c. 1888 in Barbour County, Alabama – March 1973 in Montgomery, Alabama) was a preacher and singer. He was raised as a Baptist by his father, and moved to Chicago during World War I. There he joined The Church of the Living God, Pentecostal, and in 1920 became a preacher in this denomination.

Following the examples of Rev. J. M. Gates and Rev. F. W. McGee, in March 1928 Rice made his first recordings for the Vocalion label in Chicago, and over the period until July 1930 he recorded a total of 28 sides although two are lost. These are described in terms such as "Rev D. C. Rice, sermons with singing, assisted by His Congregation". Many of the performances begin with Rice intoning a verse from the Bible and then giving a short sermon, his voice rising and falling with blues inflections, while members of the congregation respond with "amen". Then Rice leads the ensemble into a hymn, generally of an evangelical type. Rice's singing dominates the recordings, the other singers providing harmonized support. The instrumental accompaniment is by piano plus one or more of mandolin, string or brass bass, triangle or other small percussion, trumpet, and trombone.

Rice continued to be active in black churches, as a preacher and ultimately a bishop. Music continued to feature in his religious career but no further recordings are known after 1930. His 1928-30 recordings have been issued on LP (Herwin Records) and on CD (Document Records), finding favour with enthusiasts for early gospel music, blues, and jazz.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1888, Died March 1, 1973

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, vocalist, author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-38 of 38 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick C5184 10-in. Jan. 1930 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Rev. D. C. Rice and Congregation Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C5185 10-in. Jan. 1930 He arose then from the dead Rev. D. C. Rice and Congregation Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C5186 10-in. Jan. 1930 Testify—for my Lord is coming back again Rev. D. C. Rice and Congregation Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C5187 10-in. Jan. 1930 When I take my vacation in heaven Rev. D. C. Rice and Congregation Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C5196 10-in. Jan. 1930 Who dressed you up for Easter Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with responses speaker  
Brunswick C5197 10-in. Jan. 1930 Pay your honest debts Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with responses speaker  
Brunswick C5198 10-in. Jan. 1930 Some folks don’t know what they want Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with responses speaker  
Brunswick C6020 10-in. July 1930 A woman went one thousand miles to see a man Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C6021 10-in. July 1930 I’m gonna wait right here till He comes Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C6022 10-in. July 1930 We got the same kinda power over here Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C6023 10-in. July 1930 New born again Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C1784-C1785 10-in. 3/24/1928 The angels rolled the stone away Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with mixed vocal chorus and instrumental trio speaker, author  
Brunswick C1786-C1787 10-in. 3/24/1928 A sure foundation Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with mixed vocal chorus and instrumental trio speaker, author  
(Results 26-38 of 38 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rice, D. C., Rev.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106766.

Rice, D. C., Rev.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106766.

"Rice, D. C., Rev.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106766

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