Bonny "Mack" Rice (November 10, 1933 – June 27, 2016), sometimes credited as Sir Mack Rice, was an American songwriter and singer whose work helped shape mid-20th-century rhythm and blues and soul. He is best known for writing the song "Mustang Sally," and for co-writing the soul anthem "Respect Yourself." Rice combined a performer's sensibility with an ear for memorable hooks and worked with other prominent figures in the genre.
Career and notable songs
Rice began recording and performing in the postwar era and became respected for both his solo recordings and his songwriting for other artists. His composition "Mustang Sally" became widely known after it was recorded and popularized by other performers, turning the tune into a standard of R&B repertoire. Another of his important contributions, "Respect Yourself," co-written with fellow musician Luther Ingram, found success through powerful recordings by established soul acts and remains a frequently cited civil-rights–era anthem.
- "Mustang Sally" — Rice's composition that entered mainstream R&B catalogs.
- "Respect Yourself" — co-written with Luther Ingram and covered by major soul groups.
- Other recordings and collaborations — Rice recorded solo material and worked with peers across the Detroit music scene.
Style, influence and legacy
Rice's style blended catchy, danceable rhythms with straightforward, memorable lyrics. His songs have been covered by a wide range of artists, contributing to the diffusion of Southern soul and Detroit R&B beyond their regional origins. Because several of his compositions became hits in other artists' renditions, his influence extended through those performers' recordings and live repertoires.
Later in life Rice remained connected to the Detroit musical community. He died in Detroit, city, Michigan, on June 27, 2016, at age 82, after complications related to Alzheimer's disease. His work continues to be played, covered and cited by musicians and historians exploring the history of American R&B and soul.