Rhonda Vincent Invited to the Wyoming Capitol‏

Cheyenne, Wyoming -- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage received a standing ovation before the House of Representatives in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. The "Queen of Bluegrass" and her band "The Rage" were invited to perform after Speaker of the House "Ed Buchanan" discovered their music while listening to a special feature of their #1 album "Taken" on SIRIUS XM Radio's "Bluegrass Junction".




Speaker Buchanan immediately went to Rhonda's web site, www.rhondavincent.com and noticed their tour schedule would take them through Wyoming. He called their management company and arranged the special surprise for the first meeting in 2011 for the Wyoming House of Representatives.



Rhonda & The Rage, "The Most Awarded Band In Bluegrass Music", was greeted with an enthusiastic standing ovation by the members of the house. They performed several new songs from their #1 album "Taken"; along with Your Cheatin' Heart/Hank Williams, Crazy Love/Poco, Just When I Needed You Most/Randy Van Warner, and their accapella "Fishers of Men". Fiddler Hunter Berry, an 8-time Fiddle Player of the Year, received his own standing ovation after playing his original fiddle tune "Wow Baby".



They sang their rendition of "The Martha White Theme", as Rhonda joyously spoke of Martha White and her 10 year relationship with the flour company; and how Martha White is the longest continuous running sponsor of The Grand Ole Opry. http://www.http//marthawhite.com



After the performance, Rhonda shared copies of her CD "Taken", along with band photos of their Martha White tour bus.

Improvising, in Truest Sense of the Word

By JON CARAMANICA



 The most important member of Rhonda Vincent’s touring troupe on Thursday night turned out not to be her fiddle player or her bassist but her bus driver. Sometime during the afternoon, while the band was already in Manhattan, he got into an accident in the Lincoln Tunnel. The instruments, the stage outfits, the merchandise: none of it made it to Joe’s Pub by showtime.


And so Ms. Vincent and her band, the Rage, took the stage anyway, instruments on loan for everyone except Ms. Vincent, whose hands looked agitated not wrapped around her mandolin.


This made for a night that was less a concert than a metamorphosis, the band shifting through phases from flustered and making do to slick and professional as, over the course of the evening, fortune swung back its way.


In the beginning its members were game improvisers. Mickey Harris strummed an electric bass instead of his usual upright. And being instrumentless had some advantages for Ms. Vincent: it left her hand free to make a cute gun-shooting motion during “In the Garden by the Fountain,” a sinister new song — on record, it’s a duet with Dolly Parton, whom Ms. Vincent has clearly studied — about how to deal with a reluctant lover: “Then I reached inside my pocket/What happened next I can never tell.” The full story, a must read, in the N Y Times

Rhonda Vincent 'Taken' With New Album

Bluegrass superstar Rhonda Vincent left her label, Rounder Records, only a few months ago, but she isn't wasting any time in getting new music out to her legions of fans. The Missouri native is getting ready to release a new CD, 'Taken,' in September, on her own label, Upper Management Music.


The album, which was produced by Rhonda and her band, the Rage -- who also played on the project -- includes guest vocals by Dolly Parton, Richard Marx and Rhonda's two daughters, Sally and Tensel Sandker. More in the Boot

Rhonda Vincent Performance at the SOLD OUT - Standing Room Opry! 7/27/2010 Tuesday‏

Nashville, TN --- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage performed at the Tuesday Night Opry for a SOLD OUT - Standing Room Only performance at The Ryman Auditorium.
The Martha White Bluegrass Express pulled up among hundreds of waiting fans in the Ryman Plaza. Rhonda & The Rage performed 3 songs from their upcoming CD "Taken" soon to be released on Upper Management Music 9/21/2010.
Two of the songs mentioned Martha White. Their current single "Sweet Summertime" mentions "Martha White Biscuits" and "Ragin' Live For You Tonight" talks about "firing up ole Martha White". They received a roaring response to the new songs.

Rhonda also played her Weber mandolin that was rescued from the Martha White display at the Grand Ole Opry during the recent flood on the Ryman tonight. After the first song, Rhonda thanked the unknown person for his rescue, and made a plea to find out his identity.
She also played the slightly water damaged mandolin for a filming on Monday for a Martha White TV Commercial. At the commercial shoot is when she was surprised with the mandolin's return. She immediately strung it up, and played The Original Martha White Theme on the gold sparkle mandolin in the first segment of the commercial.
Tour information, along with details about the new CD, and official "Times Square WORLD PREMIERE" at http://.rhondavincent.com/

Rhonda Vincent Does It All

To another artist at a similar point in their career, the idea of self-producing a new album, recording it in their own studio, and then releasing it on their own label, would be an unthinkable gamble, fraught with loose ends, complications, and a distracting degree of responsibility. For Rhonda Vincent, however, it is simply the next logical step. Among the most complete and accomplished artists of her generation – in any genre – Vincent was born into a performing family, and from an early age has dedicated herself to understanding and excelling at every element of her craft. She is quick to point out that she is not infallible: in fact, her willingness to take chances and then diligently assess the results afterwards has insured her continuing artistic and professional growth.
“With every album that I make,” she reflects, “I learn something. Sometimes it’s something I
could or should be doing, sometimes it’s something not to do. I’ve done this all of my life, and
I’ve come to realize that if the experience is not pleasant, you need to find something you can
take away from it…” She applies those lessons exquisitely to Taken, her first album on her own
Upper Management imprint, available in stores on September 21, 2010.

Famously crowned as “the new queen of bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal, and indeed the
most decorated musician in that field, Vincent’s music is actually much more inclusive and
accessible than that banner would suggest, incorporating savvy contemporary touches while
drawing deeply from the haunting mountain soul of classic Monroe-styled bluegrass. The
presence on Taken of special guests ranging from Dolly Parton to Richard Marx to Little Roy
Lewis affirms Vincent’s wide-ranging vision.
One of the defining aspects of bluegrass – and a prominent thread running through Taken – is
that it is, first and foremost, a communal music. While famously self-reliant, Vincent is also
proud to acknowledge and incorporate the contributions of the Rage, her longtime backing band,
which consists of Hunter Berry (fiddle), Mickey Harris (bass), Ben Helson (guitar), and Aaron
McDaris (banjo, guitar). Bucking the trend of recording with overly-familiar session musicians,
then taking to the road with a different group of players, Vincent not only uses the Rage
throughout Taken – she credits them as her co-producers, giving each member the opportunity to
contribute to the final product.

“It’s a collective venture,” she says with pride. “Everyone brings something. I’m open to
listening to them and asking, ‘What do you hear on this?’ They are free to use their imagination.
It’s so nice to let everyone individually critique their own work. We’re coming together for a
common goal…” More at http://www.nashville.com/music/2010/07/rhonda-vincent-does-it-all/

"UPPER MANAGEMENT MUSIC" - NEW LABEL FOR BLUEGRASS QUEEN RHONDA VINCENT

Nashville, TN - International Bluegrass star, and seven-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Female Vocalist, Rhonda Vincent announced today her move to Upper Management Music, a new recording division of her in-house company, Upper Management. Founded in 2006 by Vincent's long time manager, Herb Sandker, Upper Management houses both Vincent's tour booking and management companies, along with facilitating her annual Bluegrass Cruise, in addition to the new label division. Upper Management has released three previous projects including the critically acclaimed "WoW Baby" from award winning fiddle player, Hunter Berry.

"I'm thrilled and a bit overwhelmed," Vincent states. "This is a big responsibility, but I know we can do it. We have an incredible team working on this project, in and out of the studio! Super songwriters, marvelous musicians, an exceptional engineer, and a powerhouse press agent."

Vincent is currently in her Adventure Studios recording with eight-time Grammy Award winner, Bil VornDick. Vincent created her last four Grammy nominated projects at Adventure Studios and feels right at home in this setting. "Bil is the king at capturing great tones," Vincent shares. "The new sounds are very real and authentic. With my band The Rage as the core band of the album, we'll be able to duplicate the music in our live performances. We are joined by several guest musicians and vocalists, along with a few surprises."

The announcement of the new label is in tandem with the announcement of Rhonda's first bluegrass single, an early sneak peak at what's to come for Bluegrass Radio in Vincent's debut project on her new label. The single is appropriately scheduled to be released on the First Day of Summer (6/21/2010) and aptly titled "Sweet Summertime".

DJs can expect to receive a personal message with complete instructions on how to receive the new music from Upper Management Music in the next few days.

Album details coming soon.

Blaylock brings energy to bluegrass show

Published: Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:12 AM CDT

Telegraph staff reports
The Country Bluegrass Show lineup continues to provide some of the best talent in the industry and the 10th anniversary edition is certainly proof of that fact.
Audie Blaylock and his band, Redline, will perform at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, and also 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, April 23. This will be their first time on the North Platte stage.
In a region where top bluegrass musicians rarely perform, for those planning to attend the 10th annual festival in North Platte might benefit from an introduction. So here is the biography from Audie's Web site.
Audie Blaylock and Redline self-produced an album on Rural Rhythm Records in 2009 and this group of musicians brings a high level of energy to their live shows. With Matthew Wallace on bass and vocals, Evan Ward on banjo and vocals, and Patrick McAvinue on fiddle, this group has no shortage of talent.
Multi-Grammy Award winner Carl Jackson wrote in the liner notes "...This new project by Audie Blaylock and Redline is not only 'bluegrass' ... its GREAT bluegrass... no argument... end of discussion!!! I was blown away by the professionalism of Audie's performance at IBMA Fanfest this past year and this album further confirms that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of bluegrass music for years to come."
Four-time IBMA Guitar Player of the year candidate Blaylock has performed with some of bluegrass music's most distinguished acts over the years including the great Jimmy Martin and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage as well as doing session work that earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and an IBMA nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for "A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass."
This group project included Blaylock on guitar and vocals along with a stellar lineup of musicians including former Sunny Mountain Boys J.D. Crowe, Paul Williams, and Kenny Ingram. He has also performed with the legendary Red Allen, The Lynn Morris Band and songwriting great Harley Allen. Audie Blaylock and Redline had the honor of being nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's Emerging Artist of the Year award in both 2005 and 2006. Read more...

Bluegrass in Their Blood

Rhonda Vincent, one of bluegrass music's brightest stars, recently stepped out of the spotlight and played mandolin for a band of upstarts.
"I had the greatest time of my life," Vincent says from a recording studio in Nashville, Tenn. "I had such a wonderful time, just being a sideman -- loading in merchandise, carrying in instruments and loading back out and traveling in a van."
Vincent, who will perform Saturday with her band, the Rage, along with Nash Street, Nothin Fancy, Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne at American Music Theatre, wasn't doing the grunt work for just anybody. She journeyed from her home in Missouri to Chicago to play with her two daughters, Sally, 21, and Tensel, 23, who have their own bluegrass band, the Next Big Thing.
Vincent, who reigned as the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year from 2000 through 2006, says she was caught by surprise when her daughters decided to follow her into the music business
She said neither seemed to care much about music while they were growing up.
"They had absolutely no interest," says Vincent, 47, who talks just about as fast as she plays. "It was what their mom did. They played sports, they played basketball, softball. They could sing but I had to beg them to sing a song with me."
That changed when her daughters both decided to attend East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., and then enrolled in the school's music program.
"Sally calls me and says, 'Mom, I've had an epiphany; there's bluegrass in my blood,'" Vincent recalls.Full story.

This deserves your attention

Jessica Simpson Preps Bluegrass Debut

Posted by C.M. Wilcox on 3/25/10 • Categorized as Fake News

Jessica Simpson, who has focused on non-musical pursuits since parting ways with Sony Nashville last year, plans to release her first bluegrass album on Rounder Records in late 2010.

“Over the years – whether I was watching my pop singles flounder, watching my country singles flop, or joking nervously about my bosom so as to distract from my utter absence of personality – I always felt like bluegrass was my home. I’m a Texas girl, you know, and Texas isn’t that far from Arkansas, the bluegrass state. So it comes pretty natural.”

Although she’s working on her high loathsome tenor, Simpson cautions that fans shouldn’t expect her Rounder debut to be bluegrass in the strictest sense. “We’re not talking Jimmy Monroe and Bill Martin here, but more like the Notorious Steeldusters meets, uh, Jessica Simpson. Sort of a newgrassy type thing, with drum loops over the, uh… banjo is the plucky circle one, right? People will really like it if they give it a chance.”

Concept by Farce the Music. Find more satirical articles in the Fake News archive.
Enjoy this post? Tell someone! Full article here.<>

Rhonda Vincent Returns To Headline Bluegrass Festival at 2010 Apple Blossom Festival

By Susan Thompson

Winchester, VA – Get ready for the 83rd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival to be held in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, April 23 – May 2, 2010.

2010 Music Line-up
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is proud to announce that its 21st Annual Envoy Bluegrass Festival has yet another unforgettable line-up.
The Martha White Bluegrass Express bus will be returning this year; and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be making an encore appearance, reprising their headline status that set modern Festival attendance records in 2008.
The Festival will host the return of Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage. Rhonda’s powerful vocals have earned her the IBMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year an incredible 7 times. However, that doesn’t even scratch the surface of her accomplishments and awards, including being a multiple Grammy nominee. Called “The New Queen of Bluegrass”, she maintains a rigorous tour schedule and has one of the most talented bands in the business.
Last year, Rounder Records released Rhonda’s most recent project, “Destination Life”. This album presents the Bluegrass Queen and her Court, at the top of their game. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are undeniably one of the most popular groups in bluegrass today.
Also featured this year will be the legendary and highly-entertaining Lonesome River Band. The line-up continues with the traditional, yet original sound of Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice. The Dixie Bee-Liners will bring variety to the proceedings with their contemporary sound and soulful voices. Rounding out the program is CoalTown, an up-and-coming band with dynamic vocals. Festival Organizers feel that this line-up is certain to provide a day of entertainment the whole family will enjoy. More details here...

Rhonda Vincent to Announce Future Label Affiliation Soon

Bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent tells CMT.com she will announce her new record label affiliation soon. She says her recent departure from Rounder Records was entirely amicable and that it occurred at the completion of her contract with the label. "I appreciate everything they've done and wrote them a letter stating that," she says. "We may work together in the future." However, regarding her involvement with another label, she adds, "All the contracts aren't signed." Vincent is a seven-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's female vocalist of the year award and was voted that group's entertainer of the year in 2001. Source, CMT News.

Rhonda Vincent Leaves Rounder Records

February 19, 2010
Bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent has left Rounder Records after 10 years with the label. During that time she released eight albums, the last one being last year's Destination Life. Vincent, her manager and her publicist are on a bluegrass cruise and could not be reached for comment. Vincent's brother, Darrin, continues to record for Rounder as half of the duo, Dailey & Vincent.

Source CMT News.

Missouri's Governor and First Lady - Fans of Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage performed Saturday night, January 9, 2010, in St Louis, Missouri for a private performance before Missouri's Governor Jay Nixon and First Lady at the Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture.
The full bluegrass performance by the 5-time Grammy Nominee was the finale of the four day conference. Rhonda and husband Herb Sandker met with the Governor and First Lady before joining them for dinner. Following the dinner, the Governor made a very heartfelt presentation concerning the agricultural needs in Missouri; and celebrating the strides made by Missouri farmers. "I was so impressed by the Governor's enthusiasm, as shown by his growing the first garden at the Jefferson City Governor's mansion" Rhonda said as she traveled to her Kirksville, Missouri home, "And the first lady is bringing back the pie baking contest at the 2010 Missouri State Fair!"
A tribute to long-time Missouri Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond followed the Governor's presentation, then Rhonda & The Rage took the stage to close out the evening.
A mix of bluegrass favorites and special requests were played; as the Governor and First Lady danced, joined by many others in attendance. Rhonda & The Rage performed the Martha White Theme, and mentioned joining the First Lady for the pie baking contest.
Bluegrass continues to expand throughout Missouri, up the steps, and through the doors of our State Capitol.

Rhonda Vincent and The Rage

Bluegrass is more than a job for Rhonda Vincent

By Andrew McGinn, Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD

Rhonda Vincent never left her patch of Missouri.

She did, however, finally leave Greentop (pop. 412) for the county seat, Kirksville (pop. 17,304).
You might bump into her at Walmart. Might run into her in the chip aisle at the Hy-Vee.
That’s fine and all if you want to stick around and plan stuff like class reunions, but is Kirksville, Mo., really any place for a monarch?
“You’re 100 miles from a mall,” her royal highness revealed this week. “You go back in time when you go there.”
And that is why, for the anointed queen of bluegrass, Kirksville is to Vincent I what Buckingham Palace is to Elizabeth II.
It’s good to be queen — but Vincent, the bluegrass star who plays Kuss Auditorium on Jan. 16 with her band, The Rage, isn’t about to get all highfalutin about it.
“To me, it’s a way of life that’s evolved into a career,” she said. “I would be doing this no matter what.”
The truth is, she’s good.
She’s more than that, actually.
A decade ago, the Wall Street Journal deemed her the “new queen of bluegrass,” and mountain music entered into a new, Vincentonian era.
The Kraussian era was at an end.

Full story.

Rhonda Vincent happy to be on the road again

By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR. - otaylor@thestate.com

Rhonda Vincent is done being lazy.
December is the only month her band, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, take time off the road.
"We're lazy the whole month of December because I have no schedule," said Vincent, who will perform Sunday at Bill's Music Shop & Pickin' Parlor. "This is the only time of the year I can do that. I can't say that very often.
"If I want to stay up late, I can, but I'll feel guilty. It's hard for me because I'm a workaholic."
Vincent is a bluegrass virtuoso. She can sing, and she plays mandolin, guitar and fiddle. She began her career as a child in her family's band, The Sally Mountain Show.
Performing is what she knows best.
During our interview in mid-December, Vincent was trying to keep busy. She was paying bills and listening to "Willie's Place," Willie Nelson's radio station on XM Radio. She also was passing time by playing games on Facebook and shopping for birthday and Christmas gifts.
One of the gifts she was searching for: Gut strings for a daughter's bass guitar.
And a bass amp.
"Both of my daughters are in a band called Next Best Thing," Vincent said of Sally, 23, and Tensel, 21. "They're going to record another album.
"I'm excited for them. They had no interest (in playing music) until a couple of years ago."

More

Unidentified Red Head Crashes Next Best Thing Show.

No explanation necessary, where was security?

Proud Mother Tapes Her Daughters' Show

Rhonda taping her daughters in the band Next Best Thing. I wonder, did she have a written release from the band.

More from Parsons

Hunter Berry was called on stage to play a song with Next Best Thing, Hunter is engaged to Sally (guitar), a July 2010 wedding is planned.

Does anyone else remember Rhonda traveling with her kids an the road? When Rhonda was still in the family band, The Sally Mountain Show, she brought them to the Elizabeth Moose several times, Tensel was a toddler at the time. Seeing them now makes me feel old.

Kenny Ingram Joins Larry Stephenson Band

Kenny Ingram will be joining The Larry Stephenson Band, on banjo. Kenny has a long and distinguished career in bluegrass music, working with Lester Flatt, Jimmy Martin, and most recently seven years with Rhonda Vincent.

Vincent's Good Thing Still Going!

Upper Management (info@uppermanagement.net)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Nashville, TN

Vincent's Good Thing is Still Going!

Rhonda Vincent, "The Queen of Bluegrass" as crowned by the WALL Street Journal, continues her "Good Thing" in the Top 10 Country Albums of 2008, as part of the year end selections at CMT.com; with her Rounder Records project "Good Thing Going, released 1/8/08.
Edward Morris writes, "... Vincent is probably the best band leader in bluegrass. Her talent for getting the most imagination and energy from her players -- whether it's a road or studio ensemble -- comes through magnificently here, via such gems as "I Gotta Start Somewhere," "Hit Parade of Love" and her lovely duet with Keith Urban, "The Water Is Wide."

Vincent recently posted her excitement at new changes in her group "The Rage" for 2009. She stated, "I hope that you will be as excited as I am about the new music, new members, and new approach to our presentation," "For the first time in the history of Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; I will record with only the musicians of The Rage. There will be no guest appearances or additional musicians of any kind."
Morris acknowledges Rhonda's choices in and out of the studio, with his description in his Top 10.
Rhonda & The Rage will hit the road beginning January 1, 2009, beginning their coast to coast journey, hosting her very own Caribbean Bluegrass Cruise, and traveling in style in her custom, state-of-the-art tour bus, beginning her 8 year sponsorship with Martha White; in the tradition of Flatt & Scruggs. Martha White is the longest continuous running sponsor of the Grand Ole Opry.
Check http://www.rhondavincent.com/ for a complete Tour Schedule.
Related links: http://www.bluegrasscruise.com/ ; http://www.cmt.com/ ; http://www.marthawhite.com/ ; http://www.rounder.com/