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Born 82 Years Ago Today in Wisconsin, the Legendary Country Crooner Whose Signature Song Was Covered by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
The article, published by American Songwriter, marks the 82nd birthday of country singer-songwriter Bobby G. Rice, born on 11 July in Boscobel, Wisconsin. It highlights that his self-penned signature song, "You Lay So Easy On My Mind", was later covered by the celebrated duo Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn on their album Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, though the track was originally Rice's own hit. The piece serves as a retrospective on his life and long recording career.
Rice grew up on a Wisconsin farm in a musical family of six siblings, making his stage debut on guitar and banjo at age five at the local Circle D Ballroom and later featuring on a weekly radio show. After forming a rock-and-roll group, the Rock-A-Teens, following his 1962 graduation, he returned to country music and moved to Nashville in the late 1960s, developing a style he called "modern country". He placed 30 singles on the country charts between 1970 and 1988, with "You Lay So Easy On My Mind" reaching number three in 1973, alongside other top-10 hits including "You Give Me You", "Write Me a Letter" and "Freda Comes, Freda Goes". Though he has not released an album since 1985, Rice remains active in record production today.
Explained simply
Bobby G. Rice is an American country music singer-songwriter who emerged as a significant chart presence during the 1970s and 1980s. His composition "You Lay So Easy On My Mind" became one of his most enduring works, later recorded by the country duo Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, bringing his songwriting to a wider audience.
Rice grew up in rural Wisconsin in a musical family, beginning his performance career at an exceptionally young age, making his stage debut at five years old. After initially forming a rock-and-roll group in the early 1960s, he eventually returned to country music and moved to Nashville in the late 1960s to pursue a recording career.
Between 1970 and 1988, Rice placed thirty singles on the country music charts, with "You Lay So Easy On My Mind" reaching number three in 1973 and several other tracks achieving top-ten positions. Though his last studio album came in 1985, he has remained active in music production over the decades since.