Today we’d like to introduce you to Rice Drewry.
Rice, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born and raised in Memphis, I was exposed to a variety of music growing up with older siblings, although we had no musicians in my immediate family. I learned to play songs on acoustic guitar, mostly concentrating on songs I was able to sing along to. My first songwriting efforts started in high school with my good friend Joe Leathers, now a staff songwriter in Nashville, TN. I was mostly a campfire singer through college, trying to figure out what to do with my life. I found I had knack for the sciences and with some excellent instructors, was able to matriculate into University of Tennessee medical school in Memphis. To help pay for school, and because I wanted to serve, I applied for and received a Health Professions scholarship through the Army. After med school graduation, I served in the Army for 5 years before separating and finishing a family medicine residency in Jackson, TN. My wife, Theresa and our 3 children (Lauren, Rachel and Daniel) moved back to the Memphis area in 1993. During those training years, I continued to play music, including in a band while in the Army, but I did not find time to start writing songs again until the move back. I joined Memphis Songwriter’s Association in 1994 and have been a member ever since, continuing to stay active.
Make no mistake, my vocation is in medicine and making a positive impact on the health and lives of many patients, but I also have a passion for music and have worked hard to balance that relationship.
On the music front, around 1996 or 1997, I was able to join some local musicians already established as the Tumblin’ Sneakers. Led by drummer Joel Hobson, guitarist Sam Carson and lead singer Wise Jones (heart and soul of the band), they welcomed Joe Leathers (guitar), John Hirt (bass and keys) and myself (acoustic guitar and vocals). While we certainly were mostly a cover band, we did record an album of original songs in 1999, engineered and produced by the late Memphis music icon, Jack Holder. I was hooked!
I began writing more consistently in the early 2000’s and recorded a solo CD, “When You Smile” again with Jack at the helm in 2006. I released another solo CD in 2009 (Thousand Shades of Gray) and a then released “Rhythm of the Rain” in 2013 as Rice Drewry & Six Degrees, featuring Sam Carson, Donna Hansom (vocals), David Bodkin (bass), Paula Thweatt (keyboards), Randy Workman (drums). My son, Daniel Drewry, ably subbed in for Randy (broken arm) at the release show without missing a beat!
I recorded another solo effort in 2014″The Mamba Box”, most of the work being done at Farmhouse Studios in Moscow TN with my friend, engineer, Bryan Hayes. On this recording is my WWII tribute song, “When They Were Young”, used as a theme song for the Forever Young Veterans Group based out of Collierville, TN. A highlight for me was playing the song to a slideshow of WW2 scenes / soldiers for their big USO type fundraising gala.
A trio offshoot from Six Degrees, 3 Degrees was formed with myself, Donna Hansom (vocals and percussion) and Donna Wolf (fiddle). With it’s smaller footprint, 3 Degrees plays a lot of gigs during the warmer months in patio weather. Another CD of original material was released in 2015 under Rice Drewry & 3 Degrees.
In 2017, an EP called “Crisis in the Chakras” was released. The title track is about losing my singing voice for about 3 months, documented in a painting called “Crisis in the 5th Chakra” by artist and friend, Joyce Petrina. Fortunately, I recovered most of my range after about 6 months.
2019 saw another EP release entitled “Way Out Here” and in 2022, released “Been Away Too Long”, a full CD, produced by Dunk Carter (guitarist and engineer) and mixed by Dunk and Bryan Hayes. This CD features a couple of co-write with bass player David Bodkin, and Donna Hansom. Our current group is Rice Drewry Collective and we have been together since about 2018 featuring Tony Rapp on drums, Dave Bodkin Bass, Dunk Carter on lead guitar, Ron Richards on keyboards, Donna Hansom sharing lead vocals and hand percussion and myself on lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitars. High school friend and musical wizard, Parker Card (keys) played with us for too short of a time, before losing his battle to cancer. I think of him often.
We are a mainstay at Historic Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis, and though we play mostly cover songs, we always include original Memphis music in our sets. We were awarded as best original music band with Lafayette’s Music Tommy Awards.
I continue to play in songwriter shows and have placed in the finals several occasions for the annual Memphis Songwriter’s Association showcase, taking home first place in 2023 with “Whirlwind”. I have had the privilege of playing a show at the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and one of Memphis best songwriting venues, South Main Sounds, hosted by Mark Parsell, president of MSA. I hope to continue to grow as a songwriter and play music for as long as I am able.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It can be a challenge finding time to write and perform during busy stretches at work, but I do my best to do so. Another challenge is finding venues where original music can be featured instead of just sprinkled in the set list. That is particularly true for non-touring acts such as myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently a board-certified family medicine physician employed by St. Francis Hospital. I operate more as a general practitioner now, since my practice has aged along with me. I am proud to say that with the help of great staff, particularly my nurse, Cindy McCarver, I have been named as a “Top Doctor” in the city of Memphis on several occasions. It is definitely a team effort.
I have had the privilege of serving as a primary care physician for several area musicians. I’d like to think I can relate to them perhaps better than other physicians, since I am a musician as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
As a doctor, I love helping a patient to understand their particular illness and motivating them to have a better, healthier life.
As a musician / songwriter. I love hearing a creation come together and recording it. Maybe a song only touches one person, but to see a song connect is truly gratifying
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ricedrewrymusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricedrewry14
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rice+drewry
