Singer/SongwriterMusician D'Allan Rice was born in 1951 in Des moines, Iowa. His girlfriends' fathers' guitar was always sitting in the dining room, seeming to beckon him to play.
Being in love, the soft summer nights on the back porch and the gentle light of a street lamp all provided the atmospheric backdrop that would launch a musical journey that would span over 40 years.
D'Allans' earliest experiences with music were by way of a pocket transistor radio at age 9. He could pick up KAAY in Little Rock Arkansas, WLS in Chicago and the local AM station in his home town of Burlington, Iowa. The music of James Taylor, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Everly Brothers, Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Neil Young and The Rolling Stones were among his early influences. The songs and Blues styles of Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, and Lightnin' Hopkins would all have a tremendous impact on him as an artist. The solo performing situation seemed to fit him to a tee.
D'Allan separated from the Navy in 1973 and moved to Iowa City, Iowa where he enrolled in art school . These artistic studies complemented his guitar playing and singing interests from 1973 to 1979. In 1980, there was a night club in Iowa City that had open mic nights and he began to play solo for the first time for people as well as joining a band with friends from his home town Burlington. The band played Country Rock, Blues and Rock and Roll.
In 1969, the Vietnam War was escalating. D'Allan was not inspired by his studies at the local community college. A low draft lottery number persuaded him to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He ended up on a ship that cruised around the ocean off of China and Vietnam. He bought an acoustic guitar on the military base and continued playing and learning with some Philipino song books with American songs in them and with a couple of shipmates that were also playing.
From 1979-1984 D'Allan continued playing solo and in bands in the Southeast Iowa, Western Illinois, Iowa City area. 1979 marked the time of his first recordings of original material. "Annie" and "Love Loon Lake" were recorded in a Burlington studio with friends joining him on the recordings.
Dreaming of and planning to have his own recording studio since the 1970's, this first multi-tracking provided him with the spark to acquire a 4- track recorder. Rice enjoys the freedom and convenience of recording in his home. His 17 years of recording experience has produced 5 record releases and numerous material that has yet to be finished. He likes recording and mixing all tracks as well as having other musicians record with him.
D'Allan's live performance reflects the musical influences of his past. A total performance is a blend of genres- country blues, folk rock, Caribbean rythmns and a touch of jazz and rock and roll. His stage is entirely acoustic guitars. He plays guitar with harmonica in the style of 1960's folk and blues harp in traditional country blues.
Notable Performances and Recordings
Some notable performances include the Rollin' On The River Blues Festival in Keokuk, Iowa, Newton Friday Fest in Newton, Iowa and the Quad Cities Downs race track in East Moline, Illinois. The most important recording to be released in 2010 is the album "Natural Roads" ,a collection of songs written and recorded from 1988 to 2009.
Summer is here again. D'Allan is sitting outside at his home in Burlington tonight and he feels much like he did in 1969. His eyes are partly closed as he looks up to the night sky. The stars are beautiful. He is remembering past shows. The larger ones but also the smaller ones and special moments; people tapping to the rythmn of the music, singing along, smiling faces. Suddenly, he feels warm inside and looks up at the sky again. Life is enchanting and mysterious and challenging sometimes. His eyes open wider now as the moon is slowly rising and the sky is getting brighter. It seems to him like a curtain coming up on stage. The show will begin and go on. Life is good.
2001-2010 Venues Performed
2001 January 20-Los Rancheros-Burlington,IA CD Release Party February 20-Los Rancheros-Burlington,IA March 20-Club 412-Burlington,IA April 7-West Side-Mt. Pleasant,IA May 4-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA June 8-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA August 18-Rollin' On The River Blues Festival-Keokuk,IA August 29-Golden Oldies-Burlington,IA September 22-Heritage Days Celebration-Burlington,IA October 12-Vinnies'-Ft. Madison,IA November 15-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA December 20-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA
2002 January 16-T.J.s' House of Music-Keokuk,IA January 23-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA January 30-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA February 6-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA February 13-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA February 16-Blazin' Bobs-Burlington,IA February 20-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA February 24-Blazin' Bobs'-Burlington,IA February 27-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA March 6-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA March 13-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA March 17-The Blue Shop-Burlington,IA March 20-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA March 27-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 3-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 7-The Beat-Burlington,IA April 10-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 17-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 20-Old World Restaurant-Keokuk,IA April 24-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 27-Franklin Tavern-Franklin,IA May 17-Old World Restaurant-Keokuk,IA May 18-Old World Restaurant-Keokuk,IA May 30-Homers' House-Roseville,IL June 1-Peabodys' Coffee Shop-Davenport,IA June 2-The Beat-Burlington,IA June 14-Peabodys' Coffee Shop-Davenport,IA July 6-Theos' Java Club-Rock Island,IL July 27-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA Logeneckers No Wake Cafe-Montrose,IA July 29-The Mill-Iowa City,IA August 3-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA September 15-Herkys'-Muscatine,IA September 22-Herkys'-Muscatine,IA September 26-Schooners'-Burlington,IA September 28-Homers' House-Roseville,IL September 29-Herkys'-Muscatine,IA November 2-Homers' House-Roseville,IL November 29-Schooners'-Burlington,IA December 7-Homers'House-Roseville,IL
2003 May 29-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA June 20-Jimmy B's-Davenport,IA July 4-Dry Creek Music Festival-Ft.Madison,IA July 10-Rock Island Music Festival-Rock Island,IL July 14-"Live From Studio One" KUNI Radio-Cedar Falls,IA July 17-Farmers' Market-Burlington,IA July 25-Newton Friday Fest-Newton,IA August 1-Schooners'-Burlington,IA August 29-Schooners'-Burlington,IA September 11-Farmers' Market-Burlington,IA September 26-Weird Harolds'-Burlington,IA October 9-Diggers' Rest Coffee House-Burlington,IA October 10-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA November 7-The Drake-Burlington,IA November 10-The Mill-Iowa City,IA December 15-The Drake-Burlington,IA
2004 January 16+17-The Drake-Burlington,IA February 17-KCPS Radio Interview-Burlington,IA February 20-The Barn Swallow-Burlington,IA February 27+28-The Drake-Burlington,IA March 7-The Beat-Burlington,IA March 11-Park View Care Center-Burlington,IA March 19-The Drake-Burlington,IA KGRR Radio Interview/Performance-Dubuque,IA April 1-The Busted Lift-Dubuque,IA April 16-T.J.s' House Of Music-Keokuk,IA April 23-The Barn Swallow-West Burlington,IA May 13-Farmers' Market-Burlington,IA June 4-The Beat-Burlington,IA June 26-The Barn Swallow-Burlington,IA July 2-The Barn Swallow-Record Release Party-West Burlington,IA October 23-The Drake-Burlington,IA November 6-The Drake-Burlington,IA
2005 January-April Songwriting and Recording May 5-Grand Orleans Motel-Fat Tuesdays Lounge-Burlington,IA July 17-The Beat-Burlington,IA September 3-D'Allan Rice Band-Burlington Musicians' Reunion-The Barn-West Burlington,IA September 25-Walk-A-Thon For M.S.-Crapo Park-Burlington,IA October 2-Top Of The Town Festival-Burlington,IA
2006 January 7-The Lost Duck-Ft.Madison,IA January 9-Sidelines Sports Bar-Ft.Madison,IA January 13-Big Shots Bar and Grille-Burlington,IA January 14-The Beat-Burlington,IA January 20-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft. Madison,IA January 21-Corner Tap-West Point,IA January 26-Blue Port Junction-Davenport,IA January 27-The Dugout Bar and Steakhouse-Burlington,IA February 10-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA February 17-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA February 20-KCPS Radio Interview-Burlington,IA February 23-KKMI Radio Interview-Burlington,IA February 25-The Blue Shop-Burlington,IA March 2-Mojos River Music Experience-Davenport,IA March 4-The Lost Duck-Ft.Madison,IA March 17-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA April 28-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA April 29-Corner Tap-West Point,IA May 26-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA June 3-Vinnies' Dry Creek Music Festival-Ft.Madison,IA July 14-Captain Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA July 21-Smittys'-Keithsburg,IL July 28-Sccooters'-Aledo,IL July 30-Deeters'-New Boston,IL August 6-The Long Branch-Oquawka,IL August 25-Capt. Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA September 16-Benefit For Tim Howe-Roeders'-Burlington,IA September 22-The Long Branch-Oquawka,IL October 6-Vinnies'-Ft. Madison,IA October 20-Capt. Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA October 28-The Long Branch-Oquawka,IL November 17-Bier Stube-Moline,IL November 22-Sidelines Sports Bar-Ft.Madison,IA December 1-Capt. Kirks' Marina-Ft.Madison,IA
2007 March 2-The Shriners' Dinner-Bettendorf,IA March 9-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA June 29-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA August 31-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA November 30-Vinnies'-Ft.Madison,IA Other Job-Trucking Runs
2008 "NATURAL ROADS" planning and production.
2009 "Natural Roads" CD planning and production
2010 "Natural Roads" CD planning and production.
May 31 Annies' Agusta Tap Agusta,IA August 18 Vinnies' Santa Fe Tap Ft. Madison,IA August 20 Eagles Club Burlington,IA (Members only, may bring a guest)
2011 April The Washington Burlington, Iowa The Drake Burlington, Iowa June Quad City Pride Fest Davenport, Iowa Captain Kirks' Marina July Farmers' Market Burlington, Iowa Spirit Knob Winery Ursa, Illinois Captain Kirk's Marina Ft. Madison, Iowa September Heart of Illinois Fair Peoria, Illinois
2012 June 23- Vinnies' - Ft.Madison, IA White Horse Lounge- Burlington, IA The Drake- Burlington, IA Main Street Wine Stoppe- Hannibal, Mo Irish Pub- Burlington, IA KCPS Radio-Burlington, IA KOKX Radio-Keokuk, IA KBUR Radio-Burlington, IA Nauvoo Grape Festival-Nauvoo, IL Whiteys'-Burlington, IA Sports Bar- Ft.Madison, IA Kerlys'- Hannibal, MO Badger Cheese Haus- Hannibal,MO Whiteys'- Hamilton, IL