Award-winning. Brilliant musician. Vocal powerhouse. Pioneer. Classy. Bluegrass Royalty.
Those words could describe none other than the amazing Rhonda Vincent. Born with music in her blood, Vincent’s childhood spent performing with the family’s band, The Sally Mountain Show, laid the groundwork for her incredible career that has spanned over four decades, and the bluegrass icon she has become.
We spoke with the Queen of Bluegrass about her most recent successes, her status as a female in the music industry and her new project Live at the Ryman: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with Bluegrass Legends prior to its release.
CN: Hello Rhonda, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. First and foremost, congratulations on the success of your version of Elton John’s “Please” with Dolly Parton!
RV: Thank you! This was a great honor to be included on this project.
CN: When the idea of Restoration: The Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin came about, how were you and Dolly asked to participate? Did you get to choose “Please” as the cover?
RV: Bernie Taupin is a big bluegrass fan. He came to our show in 2003, we went to dinner, and have been friends ever since. He mentioned that he and Elton John were putting together these projects to commemorate their 50 years of musical collaborations and invited me to create a song for the project. Bernie mentioned the song, “Please.” I was thrilled that he asked us to create it in our own style. I thought it made a perfect bluegrass song with the tempo. I loved the message, and it worked very well. It was also Bernie’s idea to ask Dolly to sing it as a duet.
Bernie was very open to our ideas, and I was thrilled to record it with my band “The Rage”.
CN: Earlier this year, you won your first GRAMMY for Best Bluegrass Album with All the Rage: Volume One. After seven previous nominations, how did it feel to finally accept a gramophone to go with your multiple IBMA and SPBMA Awards?
RV: We were THRILLED and so honored to win our first Grammy, after seven nominations. I was starting to feel like the Susan Lucci of bluegrass music. 🙂
CN: Fans can be excited that you have a new album on its way and soon! Live at the Ryman: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with Bluegrass Legends is set for release on July 13. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
RV: This new project was filmed and recorded live at the Ryman on July 14, 2016, along with bluegrass legends Bobby Osborne, Sonny Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, and Mac Wiseman. It is THE most extensive, expensive, and tedious project I’ve ever put together. I’ve worked on the elements almost continuously for a year. It’s so historic and important, we wanted to be sure every part of it was the best it could be.
The project contains 19 songs and includes multiple collaborations and features from Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Sonny Osborne joins us on “Mama Tried,” then his brother Bobby joins us on a medley of their famous songs. Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, and Mac Wideman all do solo performances. We all end up on stage at the end as my dobro player/son-in-law plays the “Dobro Chimes” on a dobro formerly played by “Josh Graves.” It’s a once-in-a-lifetime evening of amazing performances and collection of people that will probably never perform together again.
CN: Fans will be happy to know that on your website there is also a DVD pre-order of the concert. Since this concert was recorded live with no rehearsals, when was it decided to not only record the audio of these songs live, but to also have a visual version as well?
RV: Once all of the bluegrass legends committed to the performance; we decided it was our duty to capture this on film and recording. I’m SO glad we did. Eddie Stubbs was the master of ceremonies. On the DVD & Blu Ray, he introduces each artist by giving their history and accolades and even shares his insight on learning more about bluegrass music.
CN: Will there be any special features on the DVD?
RV: The CD contains 19 songs without any conversation. We decided people would want to just listen to the music. The DVD is a full 90-minute performance featuring all artists, along with bonus footage from behind the scenes and a photo gallery. The Blu Ray contains the same content as the DVD, along with an added bonus feature that was filmed at Mac Wiseman’s home. This includes all four of the legends and myself sitting around and talking about how they started, their influences, choosing their instruments, and so much more. It’s over one hundred minutes of visiting with the legends.
CN: Recently there has been a lot of conversation, and for very good reason, about the status of women in the music industry. You are such a trailblazer for your genre, from your musicianship to your vocal prowess to your fashion, as your beautiful gowns push the stereotype of bluegrass into this world of glamour. How important is it, as both an artist and business woman, to not only stand as a strong female icon but also in the genre of bluegrass? How has the genre changed since your career began?
RV: It always amazes me when people share that I am an influence on their lives, either from the meaning of a song or just inspiring them to play or sing. I grew up in a musical family playing the music we love. I still feel like that teenager, walking around the festivals making new discoveries and performing. My mom & dad instilled the drive to work and play music. I’m doing what comes to me naturally. My dad always said, “don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something.” Being in the security of family, I didn’t feel any resistance to being a female. Even when I started my own band, I’m just doing what I naturally do.
I feel if you have the skill, work hard, and always find a way to make things work; it doesn’t really matter if you’re male or female. Now that I understand the influence we can have, I feel an added responsibility for myself and my band to always be a positive influence on and off stage. I feel so blessed and thankful, and I stand amazed when I see that we have blessed others with what we love to do.
CN: Speaking of musicianship, you are a master on fiddle, mandolin and guitar: Which is your favorite instrument to play?
RV: I play most any stringed instrument, some better than others. I am most comfortable on mandolin. Dad started me on the fiddle at age 12 and I used to play it every day. Now it’s just a few songs here and there, so my fiddling is never what I’d like it to be. It’s the most difficult. I started playing the guitar to write songs. I don’t do much picking on the guitar, just chords, but I recently found guitars that I absolutely love. It makes it a joy when I do a song with just a guitar and vocal.
CN: Is there a go-to song you instinctually start playing when you have an instrument in your hands?
RV: It depends on the instrument and usually the mood. There is a James Taylor song that I learned from his guitar chord book. If I’m just sitting around with a guitar, I will play “Daddy’s Baby” because those chords are so beautiful.
CN: You have one heck of a touring schedule with back-to-back shows in states all over the country! It must be amazing and so fulfilling to perform for and connect with fans all over the US and Canada. Can you tell us more about this?
RV: Performing is my favorite part of the music business. When you come to a Rhonda Vincent & The Rage show, it’s much more than just a concert. We meet and greet after the show with every person and we love to connect on my Facebook page. We have people that travel many miles and come to multiple shows. They become our friends. We get to know them and their families. It’s the people that make the places special.
CN: What do you do to decompress when you return home after a block of shows?
RV: We have a lake home now and it’s my favorite place to go. The water is so relaxing. There is a swing on the dock, and I could just sit for hours watching the boats and just relaxing by the water. Writing songs during that time is also something that takes my mind to a different place. The many details of performing make my life fast-paced, from the bus to the merchandise and every aspect of our travels. It’s fun to go to the lake, write songs, and not think about anything for a while. However, that only lasts for a few days until I start feeling the need to get back on the road. I can only sit still a short amount of time.
CN: Lastly, we like to ask our guests a simple yet thought-provoking question. If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
RV: BLESSED. I am blessed with amazing family and friends, a wonderful life of music that I love, and opportunities that I could never even dream of.
Live at the Ryman: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with Bluegrass Legends was released on July 13, 2018 and can be purchased on CD and DVD here.
For more information on Rhonda Vincent, visit her website at: www.rhondavincent.com