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 1-25 of 38 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick C2009 10-in. 6/13/1928 Come and see Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with mixed vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2010 10-in. 6/13/1928 Lord keep me with a mind Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with mixed vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2011 10-in. 6/13/1928 Leaving all to follow Jesus Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with mixed vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2074 10-in. 7/18/1928 Shall not a dog move his tongue Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2075 10-in. 7/18/1928 Take my yoke upon you Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2076 10-in. 7/18/1928 The wise and the foolish virgins Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2206 10-in. 8/11/1928 Shall not a dog move his tongue Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2207 10-in. 8/11/1928 Take My yoke upon you Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2208 10-in. 8/11/1928 The wise and the foolish virgins Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2209 10-in. 8/11/1928 A sure foundation Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C2210 10-in. 8/11/1928 I will arise and go to my father Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C3001 10-in. 2/22/1929 He’s got His eye on you Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with singing speaker, author  
Brunswick C3002 10-in. 2/22/1929 I’m in the battlefield for my Lord Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with singing speaker, author  
Brunswick C3085 10-in. 3/9/1929 I’m pressing on Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with singing speaker  
Brunswick C3086 10-in. 3/9/1929 No night there Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with singing speaker  
Brunswick C3923 10-in. 7/22/1929 Jesus Christ, the wonderful counsellor Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C3924 10-in. 7/22/1929 Will they welcome me there? Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C3925 10-in. 7/22/1929 Leaning on the everlasting arm Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C3926 10-in. 7/22/1929 Glory to His name Rev. D. C. Rice Sermon, with vocal ensemble speaker  
Brunswick C4739 10-in. 11/23/1929 Sin is to blame Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C4740 10-in. 11/23/1929 Tell it over again Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C4741 10-in. 11/23/1929 Who do you call that wonderful counsellor? Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C4742 10-in. 11/23/1929 I mean to live so God can use me Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
Brunswick C4743 10-in. 11/23/1929 Blessed quietness Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps speaker  
Brunswick C4744 10-in. 11/23/1929 I shall not be removed Rev. Rice's Sanctified Singers Vocal ensemble, with tuba, piano, and traps vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 38 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rice, D. C., Rev.," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106766.

Rice, D. C., Rev.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106766.

"Rice, D. C., Rev.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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