April 2009 has been set as the publication date for the in-depth biography of Tony Rice, of which we first learned more than two years ago. Written by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright, it will be debuted during this year’s Merlefest in North Carolina.

Tim tells us that the working title for the book is Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story. It will be the second release from Word of Mouth Press, a new progressive imprint based in Kingsport, TN. Stafford founded the company along with with Bobby Starnes and Johnny Burton to publish biographies of important roots musicians. Their first book was a children’s Christmas book on the Santa Train, a Thanksgiving tradition in East Tennessee of more than 60 years.

Still Inside covers Rice on two tracks, examining Tony’s personal life and his impact as a musician, with Tim tackling the guitar side and Caroline, Rice the individual.

Stafford says that it will run to over 400 pages with plenty to interest the most devoted Rice-head.

“We’re very excited about this book. It will features scads of great photos as well as Tony’s entire life in his own words along with testimony from over a hundred key eyewitnesses, all laid out in an innovative new design.”

More details about the book’s release should be forthcoming shortly, including information about book signings and other public events. We’ll be sure to pass them along as we get them.