Tracy grew up in a very musical and culturally-eclectic family, the Canadian daughter of a Barbadian mother and a Scottish father. In her childhood home in Ontario, passing a guitar around the living room and sharing songs was as natural as breathing. In fact, she included a clip of her grandmother's singing on her latest EP, Truth.
She started singing and playing the guitar at age 7, and began performing professionally with bands at 15, which led her to try her hand at keyboards, drums, and songwriting. Her primary musical influences are now "classic rock"-- Fleetwood Mac, Heart, the Eagles, Elton John-- and later Jann Arden, Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Aimee Mann. Although audiences often see her as a rocker, reviewers note her ability to walk the line between rock and New Country genres, evoking characterizations of the love child of Melissa Etheridge and Terri Clark.
She began her solo career in London, Ontario, Canada with the recording of her first independent album in 1996. Her reputation as a great songwriter with a powerful voice gained her opportunities for interviews and performances on local radio and television. Her second CD, 'Out of the Light', was funded by the Canadian government-supported Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent On Recording (FACTOR).
In 2002 she opened for Country Music's (and fellow Canadian) Terri Clark. Ironically, a year later her original song won the writing category titled 'Perfect for Terri Clark' in the Nashville Song Search. Tracy was the only non-American to win in this international competition. Subsequently, she began making regular networking trips to Nashville.
In early 2006 Tracy released a 5 song EP, 'Truth'. Her goal was for an earthier sound, and a completely different approach from her previous rock efforts. "I wanted to get a little more organic with instrumentation, and match it with my vocal style". The album definitely shows traces of Nashville production, in more than the addition of a mandolin track. Australian fingerstyle guitar virtuouso Tommy Emmanuel, C.G.P., contributed acoustic parts on 4 tracks and the song 'Runaway Bay' was co-written with renowned Nashville songwriter Mary ann Kennedy.
In Spring 2006, Tracy toured as an opener for Tommy Emmanuel. The following is a review from the Austin, TX show:
"Tracy Rice is as genuine as 24-carat gold. She is the real deal. Her voice is as clean and clear as a mountain stream, but the power behind it is pure white-water rapids. Her original songs are full of happiness, loneliness, hopefulness, fear, and courage. They are personal tales of her unvarnished humanity. And the Cactus Cafe (Austin) crowds loved her.
Tracy thanked the audience for their sincere attention, but it was clear that appreciation for sharing her touching songs was a two-way street. Hers is a talent truly worthy of attention and respect."
Mike Crixell
Editor/Executive Producer, Acoustic Player Magazine |
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