Tony Rice, guitarist who brought a touch of jazz to bluegrass, dies at 69

Tony Rice, a virtuoso bluegrass guitarist and singer who collaborated with Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Garcia and Béla Fleck, and who, with mandolinist David Grisman, defined the synthesis of bluegrass, jazz and chamber music known as “dawg music,” died Dec. 25 at his home in Reidsville, N.C. He was 69.

His death was confirmed in a news release by Casey Campbell, a spokesman for the International Bluegrass Music Association, who did not give a cause of death.