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Rhonda Vincent

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Albums17
Songs137
AboutOne of the most acclaimed and popular figures on today's bluegrass
scene, Rhonda Vincent shows no signs of slowing down and taking it
easy. It's simply not her nature. Relentlessly pushing forward,
Vincent has built a remarkable career based on equal measures of
pure, natural talent and tireless dedication. She prides herself on her
involvement with every facet of her music: she's not only an
award-winning vocalist - Vincent is a resourceful multi-instrumentalist
(mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and most anything else with strings),
heartfelt songwriter, esteemed bandleader, and, as her new
recordings continue to prove, a producer with the rare gift of
creating recordings that balance the timeless drive and soul of
bluegrass with a subtle contemporary elegance. That unique balance
is audible throughout her thrilling new album, the aptly-titled All
American Bluegrass Girl, which blends her distinctly modern take
on bluegrass with classic elements, and features Vincent performing
alongside members of her fiery road band the Rage, a host of
top-notch session musicians, and some of the music's legendary
figures. It is also the first album recorded in her own studio,
Adventure Studios in Nashville.

The title track is her story, an original, high-energy crowd-pleasing
autobiography in song. "I worked hard on it, to make it real and
true," Vincent explains. "This song became not only the title for
the album - it set the tone for this project." Not only does the
patriotism and honesty of the lyric establish a theme that is
carried throughout All American Bluegrass Girl, but its music
epitomizes Vincent's surging yet sleek brand of bluegrass that,
while sounding natural and effortless, is something Rhonda has
been diligently perfecting pretty much her entire life.

Vincent was raised on bluegrass, first taking the stage with her
family's band the Sally Mountain Show when she was barely five
years old. She started learning mandolin at age eight, which was
also when she released her first single - an exhilarating, driving
arrangement of "Mule Skinner Blues" that Vincent still performs.
Learning the nuances of harmony, arrangement, and stage
presence by playing with the Sally Mountain Show throughout
her childhood, Vincent grew into a formidable musician and a
radiant, captivating lead singer able to deliver both overpowering
up-tempo numbers and soulful, introspective ballads. Her early
bluegrass solo albums led to a Nashville deal, and the experience
of recording her two fine commercial country efforts taught her
essential lessons about the inner workings of the music industry.
Vincent triumphantly returned to bluegrass with her 2000
Rounder debut Back Home Again. That same year, the
bluegrass community welcomed her back with Female Vocalist
of the Year honors at that year's International Bluegrass Music
Association awards - her first of an unprecedented six
consecutive wins in that category. She received the coveted
Entertainer of the Year award from IBMA the following year,
concurrent with the release of her second Rounder album The
Storm Still Rages. One Step Ahead followed in 2003, which
included "You Can't Take It With You When You Go," a top-five
video hit on CMT.

All the while, Vincent was refining her supporting group, the Rage.
When the lineup evolved to include guitarist/mandolinist Josh
Williams, fiddler Hunter Berry, bassist Mickey Harris, and banjo
player Kenny Ingram, Rhonda felt the time was right to document
their storming live concerts as both a CD and DVD. Ragin' Live was
released in 2005, and boasted a well-chosen selection of prior
favorites, instrumental and vocal features for members of the
Rage, and several previously unrecorded songs that found
Vincent working with a small string section in a more hushed,
evocative style. The album was nominated for a 2005 Best
Bluegrass Album Grammy® award. The reflection and preparation
that went into the creation of Ragin' Live helped set the stage for
All American Bluegrass Girl. "I did intentionally want to make sure
that this album had more of a classic sound," she says, "since we
ventured away from that style a little bit on Ragin' Live. But I
always hope to have a good balance of everything - from
in-your-face bluegrass to softer acoustic country sounds. I
approached this album like I do our live performances, and
try to have something for everybody."

The twelve tracks that make up All American Bluegrass Girl cover
a wide range of styles and textures, while maintaining a carefully
consistent sound. The spry title track moves seamlessly into the
quietly eloquent, bittersweet "Forever Ain't That Long Anymore."
For every high-energy bluegrass track, there is something more
quietly personal, like the beguiling "Prettiest Flower There."
She continues to find refreshing new dimensions to her music,
as evidenced by the swinging, bluesy gospel of "Jesus Built a
Bridge to Heaven." In addition to the strong performances, All
American Bluegrass Girl is a showcase for Vincent's gift for
finding new and intriguing songs that fit her emotional style. In
the course of her travels, she is handed hundreds of cassettes,
CDs, and lyric sheets. "And," she says sincerely, "I listen to
them all. The songs I am drawn to many times have the simplest
of melodies, but also a compelling story. The ones that speak to
our emotions seem to be the most effective. It's amazing, but
people seem to want to hear a song that will make them cry."

While Vincent claims that she is especially excited to discover new
writers, one of the most encouraging elements of All American
Bluegrass Girl is her own continuing emergence as a songwriter,
with the title track, the poetic and moving "God Bless the Soldier,"
and the nimble instrumental "Ashes of Mount Augustine." Despite
winning the 2004 Song of the Year award from IBMA for her
co-composition with Terry Herd, "Kentucky Borderline," Vincent
admits, "I still don't feel like a true songwriter. Those are the
people who go to work and write songs every day from 9 to 5.
I would describe myself more of a person who is inspired on
occasion to put my feelings on paper and a melody to those
words. 'God Bless the Soldier' is a good example. I wrote this
song after a visit to the nation's largest military base in Fort Hood,
Texas. I was not prepared for the impact that visit would have
on my life. We visited a military hospital, where we met with
patients who were active duty soldiers, just back from Iraq. I was
amazed at how appreciative they were of our visit. Some were just
out of surgery, others on their way to be discharged from the
hospital. But all were anxious to see us, and thanked us for taking
time to see them. I felt it the other way around."

A striking version of the Roy Acuff classic "Precious Jewel,"
featuring shared lead vocals from Rhonda, Mickey Harris, and
Josh Williams of the Rage, is testament to Vincent's foundation
in traditional country music. A stunning guest appearance by
Dolly Parton ("Heartbreaker's Alibi") and a duet with bluegrass
great Bobby Osborne ("Midnight Angel") are indicative of the
respect felt for Vincent by her both her peers and her idols. "It's
always sheer delight to be in a room with Dolly," Vincent reflects.
"She is so easy to work with. What amazes me about her the most
is that she is an icon and doesn't need anything from anybody, but
yet is the most down to earth, thoughtful, kind, and giving person
I know. I admire her so much. And to sing with Bobby Osborne, it
is such an honor. The Osborne Brothers are the greatest influence
on my family's music as I was growing up performing in The Sally
Mountain Show. And that influence is still very prevalent in what
I do today."

And what she does today has radio, press, and fans on their feet.
Nearly two months before the album's release, the title track of All
American Bluegrass Girl was already charting on the Bluegrass
Unlimited monthly radio survey. At the 2005 International Bluegrass
Music Award Show, when most musicians are bringing out their hits
from the past year, Rhonda - always looking ahead - dazzled the
audience with the yet-unreleased "Rhythm of the Wheels," since
included on All American Bluegrass Girl. Thanks to her ongoing
sponsorship arrangement with longtime bluegrass supporters the
Martha White Company, Vincent plans to keep pushing, wheeling
the red, white, and blue Martha White Bluegrass Express bus from
coast to coast. For Vincent, the greatest reward is to experience
first hand the connection her music has with audiences. "Just
recently," Rhonda relates, "I was reminded how powerful this
music is, no matter how old or young you are. A little girl from
Missouri came up to me, after hearing 'All American Bluegrass Girl'
and asked, 'Could I sing your song?' I asked her why, and she
just said 'Because I'm an All American Bluegrass Girl too!'"

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