He was raised as a Baptist by his father, and moved to Chicago during World War I.
Many of the performances begin with Rice intoning a verse from the Bible and then giving a short sermon, his voice rising and falling with blues inflections, while members of the congregation respond with "amen".
Rice's singing dominates the recordings, the other singers providing harmonized support.
The instrumental accompaniment is by piano plus one or more of mandolin, string or brass bass, triangle or other small percussion, trumpet, and trombone.
Rice continued to be active in black churches, as a preacher and ultimately a bishop.