‘The Queen’ is Coming to Marion - Rhonda Vincent Rules Bluegrass Realm

The queen of bluegrass, that’s none other than Rhonda Vincent.
“It’s a great honor for the Wall Street Journal, in the year 2000, to label me ‘The New Queen of Bluegrass,’ and it has kind of stuck,” Vincent said.
She’s earned the distinction. Hear why when Vincent fires up the crowd when she headlines Song of the Mountains on Oct. 17 at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Va.
“It’s a wonderful venue, and a great medium to promote our music to millions of viewers,” Vincent said. “It exposes our music to many that have never heard it before. I’m thankful for them to consider me for this.”
For those unable to attend, Vincent will perform just down the road in Mountain City, Tenn., on Nov. 5 from noon-1 p.m. for a grand opening of a Kroger supermarket. Then, up the road in Charlottesville, Va., she will appear at The Paramount on Nov. 19.
Whichever show, the mandolin-mauling Vincent qualifies as bluegrass royalty.
“It’s wonderful to be thought of like that and know that you are representing bluegrass music,” Vincent said on Tuesday afternoon from her home in Nashville, Tenn. “I’m so thrilled.”
Thrilling describes Vincent’s music. Just listen to her sing “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin.” Add to that her mix of yesterday and today and occasional flirts with country music while barreling forth with a vivid bluegrass style unlike anyone else’s.
“Music has been traced throughout the Vincent family for decades,” Vincent said. “I’m the fifth generation, and my daughters have a band called Next Best Thing that are the sixth generation of Vincents to perform.”
After going solo with a country music career, Vincent returned to bluegrass with aplomb in the mid-1990s. After several years of easing back in, 2000’s “Back Home Again” signaled that she was home to stay.
“Traditional bluegrass is deeply rooted in my heart and always will be,” she said.
A string of stellar albums followed. From 2001’s “The Storm Still Rages” through her latest “Destination Life,” Vincent’s rise soared upon her heart-and-soul vocals and an intensely loyal fan following.
“Each album is different,” Vincent said. “I have to like what I’m doing before I can release it to the public. But the ultimate critics are the fans. When we go into a song and the crowd roars, you know you’ve done something right.”
Fans script Vincent’s shows more than they may realize. Music acts for years have performed what amounts to scripted concerts that sound the same night after night, but not Vincent.
“I don’t use a set list,” she said. “I will perform two or three songs and get a feel for what the crowd likes. They will let you know. The response from the fans is what ultimately dictates the success of each show.”
Vincent’s method apparently works beautifully. She’s won seven International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Her albums sell well and her concerts regularly sell out.
But she still has some major goals in mind.
“It’s always been a dream to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Vincent said. “Growing up in Greentop, Mo., we would always listen to the Opry on the radio. Just to get to perform there is an honor. To be a member would be the ultimate.”

IF YOU GO
What: Song of the Mountains
Who: Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Next Best Thing, Balsam Ridge and Fall Creek
When: Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Theatre, 117 E. Main St., Marion, Va.
Admission: $25
Info: (276) 783-6093
Web: http://www.rhondavincenet.com
Audio: http://new.music.yahoo.com/rhonda-vincent/tracks/
And: http://www.songofthemountains.org

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .