Photo Credit: Russ Harrington

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 (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and most anything else with strings) 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 the International Bluegrass Music Association [I.B.M.A.] awards ? her first of an unprecedented six consecutive wins in that category.

She received the coveted Entertainer of the Year award from I.B.M.A. the following year, concurrent with the release of her second Rounder album The Storm Still Rages. One Step Ahead followed in 2003, and 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 the excitement of their live concerts on 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  (2006) cover a wide range of styles and textures, while maintaining a carefully consistent sound.  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.

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 highlights 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 I.B.M.A. 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 as more of a person who is inspired on occasion to put my feelings on paper and add 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.?

Released in January 2008 on Rounder Records, Good Thing Going is Vincent’s most personal album to date. With hope, resilience, and gratitude, Vincent presents a set of songs that range from timelessly straight-ahead bluegrass to effervescent swing and heartfelt ballads.

The twelve tracks that make up Good Thing Going  include five originals or co-writes, alongside a range of contemporary and classic cover tracks including a beautiful rendition of “The Water is Wide” with country superstar Keith Urban.  From the hard-driving bluegrass ?Hit Parade of Love? (an old Jimmy Martin tune and longtime concert favorite) to tender balladry ?I Give My Love to You? (a touching original ballad, performed as a duet with Russell Moore) to the rollicking, playful autobiographical title track and the concert favorite, ?Bluegrass Saturday Night.

Official Web Site: www.rhondavincent.com

Mule Skinner Blues (1970)

Joshua (1974)

Pretty Fair Bluegrass (1975)

Blue Ribbon Bluegrass (1976)

Sun's Coming Up (1980)

I Came On Business (1981)

Lavender Lullaby (1983)

Sheltered In The Arms (1985)

Holdin' Things Together (1986)

New Dreams and Sunshine (Rebel, 1988)

A Dream Come True (Rebel, 1990)

The Vincent Brothers with The Sally Mountain Show (1990)

Bound for Gloryland (Rebel, 1991)

Timeless and True Love (Rebel, 1991)

Written in the Stars (Koch Records, 1993)

Trouble Free (1996)

Yesterday & Today ? 30 Years of Music (1998)

Back Home Again (Rounder, 2000)

The Storm Still Rages (Rounder, 2001)

My Blue Tears (Rebel, 2002)

One Step Ahead (Rounder, 2003)

Ragin' Live (Rounder, 2005)

All American Bluegrass Girl (Rounder, 2006)

Beautiful Star: the Christmas Collection (Rounder, 2006)

Good Thing Going (Rounder, 2008)