Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Rice Drewry has been playing guitar and writing songs for over twenty years. Early influences included the Beatles, James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash (& Young) and Memphis own Stax sound. On his 2006 release, “When You Smile”, you’ll hear some of those influences along with a hint of the Allman Brothers and John Mellencamp thrown in the mix. The CD was recorded at Sounds Unreel studios, engineered and produced by Jack Holder (Johnny Lang, Travis Tritt, Tracy Chapman).
Two of the cuts off this, “Still Have You” and “Don’t Talk About That” were included on the Best of MSA compilation that came out in 2005. MSA, for those unaware, is the Memphis Songwriters Association, of which Rice has been an active member since 1997. He also had an original Christmas song “Let Me Be Your Santa Claus” on the Santa Cause, a CD released in 2003 to benefit ALSA, a group supporting the debilitating neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gherig’s Disease. Another compilation CD put out in 2005, entitled Flyin’ Memphis, featured an original song, “Mr. Jenkins” that is getting some local radio play in Memphis.
The singer/songwriter released a second effort in 2009 entitled, "Thousand Shades of Gray", again produced by Jack Holder. This CD features several songs that were co-written including "I Am" which was co-written by hit country songwriter, Joe Leathers, a long time friend and former bandmate. Also, on this CD is "House That Love Built" which is a tribute to the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis. The house serves as a home away from home for children (and their families) undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Rice is currently playing with the band Six Degrees, and they are preparing some new material to start recording in the near future.