Money, meet mouth.

Support Our Soldiers is a non-profit organization based in Florida that…

is dedicated to supporting the many Veterans organizations that share our sincere commitment to uphold a strong sense of community service and social responsibility by providing services to needy active duty soldiers, veterans of war, and their families.

Our organization was created to both raise the funds necessary to support well-deserving Veterans Organizations, as well as to invoke a movement to renew a sense of patriotism and brotherly love – to unify, raise awareness, educate, inspire and embrace our great nation.  This is about America taking care of “its own.”

To participate, simply make a CD purchase from Rhonda’s online store by midnight tonight, and she will make a donation equal to the proceeds from today’s sales to SOS. Direct donations are also being accepted online.

Here’s a Veterans Day salute to all current and former members of the US military from The Bluegrass Blog.

Bluegrass Music Profiles

Since 2005, BMP has dedicated their November/December issue to the ladies, with both feature articles and regular columns focusing on the contributions of female bluegrass artists and personalities.

The cover article by Deborah Wilbrink follows the familiar BMP interview format. An example…

BMP: What are your two favorite bluegrass songs?

DALE ANN BRADLEY: John Deere Tractor remains one of my very favorite songs. Larry Sparks had a hit with it, and The Judds recorded it. I love One Way Track, it’s been a mainstay for Boone Creek, one of the songs that progressed bluegrass. Ricky [Skaggs] has recorded it too in recent times, both of those are standards for a generation.

Also found in the new issue:

• Rhonda Vincent – Christmas Memories
• Claire Lynch and Alecia Nugent – Bluegrass Favorites
• Frances Mooney – Shop Talk
• Carrie Hassler – Bluegrass Poster
• Jennifer Strickland – Songwriter Profile
• Bertie Sullivan – Promoter Profile
• Erica Brady – DJ Profile

Subscription and single-issue details can be found online.

Rhonda posted a number of photos from the show on her Facebook page, and there is also a very nice slide show of images online, taken by Heather Byrd of The Tennessean.

Looks like it was a fun show.

Well she isn’t hiring, but her two talented daughters are. Tensel and Sally Sandker are both studying in the bluegrass music program at East Tennesse State University, and perform as Next Best Thing.

Tensel plays bass, Sally mandolin/guitar, and as you might expect, both of them sing. They have another talented young lady, Haley Stiltner, on banjo and are looking for one more to complete the group.

Rhonda posted this on her Facebook profile this morning:

“If you’re a guitar/mandolin picker, who sings beautiful baritone…..my girls are auditioning musicians. Give them a call 615-390-4610. They’re in search of the perfect person to join NEXT BEST THING. They’ll be working lots of shows with us next year. And, they’re going in the studio very soon.”

You can hear a couple of songs from Next Best Thing on their MySpace page.

This will be the third solo CD for this young artist, who at 29 has already logged lengthy stints with Special Consensus and Rhonda Vincent. His debut album, Now That You’re Gone, was released in 2001, featuring contributions from a who’s who of bluegrass superpickers, as did his 2004 follow-up, Lonesome Highway.

On Down Home, Josh pays tribute to the artists who inspired him, and the acts who gave him a start in the business. He reunites most of the personnel from Special C during his tenure (Greg Cahill and Tim Dishman), and has his guitar idol Tony Rice with him for a version of Blue Railroad Train. Tracking for this project started while Josh was still a member of The Rage, and Rhonda joins on a couple of songs along with fellow then-Ragers Kenny Ingram and Mickey Harris.

Also helping out are Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, Stewart Duncan, Jason Carter, Carl Jackson, Randy Kohrs, Tina Adair, and Aaron McDaris.

We heard Josh perform a couple of tracks from the CD during his IBMA showcase. His version of Jimmy Martin’s The Last Song was brilliant, and I am eager to hear the recorded version when the album hits. There is an inescapable joy in Williams’ music, and it is infectious, whether live or on disc.

Greg Cahill rivals Doyle Lawson in the bluegrass talent development department. Over the nearly 35 years he has managed Special Consensus, he has seen a number of young artists develop into fine musicians, and he is a big Josh Williams backer.

“I cannot speak highly enough about the musical accomplishments of Josh Williams, my good friend and consummate musician. He came to The Special Consensus right out of high school (actually while in his last few months of school) and immediately played mandolin and sang like a seasoned professional. Over the years since that time, he has grown to become a major voice in the world of bluegrass music and an award-winning guitar player as well. He is a great writer, singer and instrumentalist and it is a true joy to see him begin to receive the recognition his extraordinary talent deserves. Go Josh!!!”

Rhonda Vincent also spoke highly of Williams…

“Josh is a very talented guy. So glad to hear his CD is finally coming out.”

Pre-order details for Down Home can be found on the official Josh Williams web site.

Staying Together is one of the tracks on Gene’s latest CD, A Taste Of The Truth, released in August on Schanachie Records.

She not only got to sing, but also enjoyed the game with her husband Herb Sandker from the private box of Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, Jr. Unfortunately, Rhonda failed to provide a good luck charm, and the Chiefs went down 37-7.

Rhonda sent along a few photos of her big day in KC, the first time she’s been able to attend an NFL game.

UPDATED 1:30 p.m. – Rhonda just sent along this video from the game. You can’t see much, but you can hear her excellent rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.

Having never attended an NFL game in person, Rhonda Vincent has been invited to sing the National Anthem before the Chiefs-Chargers contest on October 25 in Kansas City. Not a bad way to see your first game!

Rhonda has sung the anthem before at several NASCAR races, and opens the Sally Mountain Festival each year with the song, so she won’t need a lot of preparation.

“I also sang it at special games when my daughters played sports in high school, and most recently at Beep Ball, (which is baseball played by visually impaired athletes), when we were performing in Phenix City, AL on 8/29/09.

It’s always an honor to sing the song. The most important thing about the anthem is being sure you start it in the right key, which is tricky, since it’s usually without instruments.  I have to pick a key just by singing it to myself before I walk to the microphone.”

In our bluegrass world, when you hear “Rhonda,” you don’t have to hear “Vincent” to know which Rhonda is under discussion. Perhaps no name in the world is so immediately recognizable as Oprah, whose televisions programs so dominate the daytime market.

Put the two together, and whoa Nellie!

Rhonda is profiled in the current (September ‘09) issue of Oprah’s O Magazine, along with a number of other familiar artists in a piece called Belles of Bluegrass by Scott Frampton. It appears on page 44 of the new issue, with the sub head “New albums from talented upstarts–plus one grand dame–find fresh inspiration in a classic American style.”

It offers brief reviews of Rhonda’s new CD, plus three other young female acts, described thusly in the article:

• The Debutantes: The Lovell Sisters – recommended song In My Time of Dyin’
• The Queen: Rhonda Vincent – recommended song Last Time Loving You
• The Whiz Kid: Sarah Jarosz – recommended song Come On Up to the House
• The Troublemakers: Those Darlins – recommended song Wild One

Look for it in a grocery store aisle near you!

Special thanks to Robin Bramlett for help with this post.

We expect bluegrass artists to be generous with their time where devoted fans are concerned, but this weekend we’ll see an especially high level of dedication from a number of acts, all for a special fan beloved for the joy she brings to her favorite performers.

Mary Ennis is a familiar sight to show and festival goers in central Virginia. She won the nickname “Dancin’ Mary” for her spontaneous, free-form reaction to her favorite music, and has been befriended by a number of top bluegrass artists.

One such friend is Larry Stephenson, who when he found out that Mary had been diagnosed with lung cancer, responded by organizing a benefit concert in Lovingston, between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, VA. Rhonda Vincent is also a Ennis fan, and is interrupting her tour schedule to be available for the show next Thursday (8/6). Nothin’ Fancy, The Little Mountain Band, In the Tradition, Plain and Simple, the James River Cutups and popular radio host Brenda Lawson will also appear.

Larry Stephenson explained what got him involved in this endeavor…

“Fans like Mary Ennis are why we do what we do. I’ve traveled all over the world in the last 35 years and I’ve never met a better bluegrass fan then Mary.

The second Friday of January each year we play a date at the Bingo Hall in Madison Heights, VA for the James River Bluegrass Association, and that’s where I met Mary. She has made that date the most fun date we play all year. It’s always a joy to see her and her family at shows in and around central Virginia.

I put this concert together in a little over an hour from my home in Tennessee, and no one said no. Bluegrass fans, bluegrass artists… it’s a wonderful community, and I’m so proud to be a part of it. It will be a special night in Lovingston, VA and I thank everyone involved.”

Rhonda Vincent is also a big supporter of Mary Ennis, who she counts among her friends. Rhonda will not only appear on the August 6 benefit show, she has also come up with a couple of other ways to give for Dancin’ Mary.

“I met Mary Ennis the first time she rushed to the stage, and started making eyes at my guitar player, during our show. She just wouldn’t sit down. She kept dancing, smiling, winking, and was so excited listening to the music. We all started laughing.

She would come right up to the edge of the stage, dancing by with such excitement.

So it became an expectation at any Virginia show, to see Dancin’ Mary run up to the stage during the songs she loved.

She seemed to have a thing for guitar players. But when I called her last week, the first thing she said was, ‘I LOVE your banjo player… I love Mickey, and I love Hunter, I love your whole bunch, but I LOVE your banjo player.’ She has a very special place in her heart for Aaron McDaris.

A couple days ago, Aaron called Mary at home. She was thrilled, and told him how much she loved him, and how handsome he is. She said, ‘You just can’t help how good you look.’

During the Rhonda Vincent Chat last Monday, I was sharing with all the chatters, that I was trying to think of something special to do for Mary. One of our Ragers suggested I write a song. The next morning, as I was washing dishes, a song came to me, and I started singing about Dancin’ Mary. I already have 2 verses and a chorus, and I hope to have it finished by August 6th, to sing at the benefit. It’s a fun happy song, and it makes special mention of Aaron and his five.

I knew I had started the song, but I still wanted to do more. I recently found these awesome Nine West red shoes. (Size 7 1/2). They are now my favorites. As I packed them for our current trip, I threw them on, took a photo, and posted on our web site, with a message that I would wear them on August 6th, and auction them off on our web site. Even before the official bidding has started, we are up to $200.

It’s all for Mary. A lady who is the perfect example of the passionate bluegrass enthusiast. And the best part, she’s not afraid to show it!”

Concert details are posted on the Larry Stephenson web site. Any of Mary’s friends who can’t make the show – or anyone moved to be of assistance – can send contributions for her to:

Rhonda Vincent will be on tonight’s (7/17) show in the 8:00-8:30 p.m. segment (EDT), and The Lovell Sisters will be on Saturday night’s show in the 8:00-8:30 and 10:30-11:00 slots.

Jesse McReynolds and Mike Snider will also perform on Friday night, and Snider and The Whites will appear on Saturday’s show.

CMT had a nice feature about The Lovells on their blog earlier this week, comparing them favorably to The Dixie Chicks. No pressure there…

The Opry is broadcast live on WSM AM 650 in Nashville, on XM channel 11 (XM Nashville), and simulcast worldwide via online streaming at wsmonline.com. Friday’s show runs from 8:00-10:00 p.m., and Saturday’s from 8:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m. All times EDT.

Rhonda Vincent’s

She and The Rage were in Lexington, KY for the June 15 taping where they featured a number of songs from her freshly released CD, Destination Life.

The online video (Windows Media) shows that she and her revamped band can bring it live just as well as they did in the studio.

And now or part two…

Here are the rest of Rhonda’s comments and a few more audio snippets to whet your appetite for Destination Life.

Stop The World (And Let Me Off)

This is a song I used to sing when I was little girl; and my family would play dances. I would wait most of the night, until I was called to sing; and this was my song. My Dad would play electric guitar. I wasn’t sure how it would work for bluegrass.

After the track was finished; every started to ask where this song came from. They loved it, and it gave everyone a chance to shine. It’s been recorded by Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline.  It’s one of my favorites these days.

Crazy Love -  Listen now:   

A song I listened to in the 70’s by a group named Poco. I have it on vinyl.  We listened to it during study hall in Jr. High. Always loved the song. I recorded it, but didn’t expect to perform it much. I was wrong about that. Everyone knows the song, and loves to sing along. It’s becoming a staple for 2009.

What A Woman Wants To Hear -  Listen now:   

Arkansas songwriter Connie Leigh called me the night before I was going in the studio. She had just written a song, and asked if she could sing it to me over the phone.  I listened, but couldn’t get past the line, “What A Woman Wants To Hear.”

After we hung up, all I could think about was that line, and I started thinking about a song that could go with it; that incorporated my husband. He always tells everyone that he wrote the book on how to be a good wife.  It’s a long standing joke on my message board.  I knew The Ragers would know exactly what I was talking about, if we included that line in the song.

Connie allowed me to join her in writing the tongue in cheek song. It’s always sure to prompt a smile.

I Heard My Saviour Calling Me

Dorothy Johnson handed me her interpretation of an actual testimony, at the Bass Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Snow Camp, NC about 5 years ago.  She said she thought I could write a song from the testimony.  I glanced at the words on the paper, and was touched by the sincerity of the testimony.

After carrying this paper around for 5 years, I finally was able to write the song. The first version is on the Bill Gaither Country Bluegrass DVD released in Aug. 2008.  We re-arranged it a bit for this project. It’s the first time Aaron ever played a 3-finger style guitar. We had a blast recording this song.

I accidentally sang a different version on the last section, and was thrilled to find the harmonies made it sound like we were playing the bells.  It features everyone in The Rage, and shows the wide vocal range of Hunter Berry, who sings higher than I do.

Eighth of January

During a break in rehearsals, Mickey started playing the bass riff that’s featuring in the front of this instrumental. It was something different. Everyone started grabbing their instruments; and we played an impromptu version of the song, just for fun.  When it ended, we said, let’s record it!

When I Travel My Last Mile (He Will Hold My Hand)

2 years ago, Ben Helson recorded a CD for his family. He engineered it, sang and played everything on it.His father sent me a copy of it. This was my first discovery of Ben Helson. He auditioned for the Rage later that year, and joined Ricky Skaggs the next year. Now he joins the Rage in 2009.

I thought of his recording during our sessions. I printed the lyrics from the internet, and went into the studio during a live webcast to just try the song. Dylan hit record, and I sang it all the way through for the first time. We felt we had captured something special, and decided not to re-sing it or change it in any way. The recording is that original LIVE vocal.

Mickey and Ben added their wonderful harmonies to it. It’s becoming a favorite on our shows.

Pre orders can be placed from the Rhonda Vincent web site, which will allow you to enter a contest to win one of several fabulous prizes – including a recording session with Rhonda and the Rage, dinner with her and the band, and a tour of the Martha White Bluegrass Express, their traveling home on the road.

These are encore presentations of earlier shows, but the music is still plenty fresh and powerful all around. The Crooked Still and Rhonda Vincent bits are especially fine.

You can access the audio for these segments online:

• Alecia Nugent
• Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
• Shawn Camp
• Uncle Earl
• The Belleville Outfit
• Sometymes Why
• Crooked Still

This is a fine record, notable both for the quality of the music, and for the fact that it breaks from the format we had come to expect in new Rhonda Vincent projects.

Once an artist becomes established and successful, the temptation to slide into a formula can be quite powerful. Fans – and often record labels -  have expectations based on recent prior releases, and for busy, over-scheduled artists the simple path is often to “do the last record again.”

On Destination Life, Rhonda recorded all the tracks with her new touring band, The Rage, something she had done only sparingly on previous albums. In fact, she has made much of the fact that she chose her newest lineup specifically with this concept in mind.

In addition to long-time members Hunter Berry on fiddle and Mickey Harris on bass, The Rage now includes Araon McDaris on banjo and Ben Helson on guitar. Rhonda told us in a recent interview that she took advantage of the artistic intensity of a new lineup to help shape the sound of the new CD.

“Instead of having a first band meeting to rehearse standard Rage songs, when Aaron and Ben called me to ask what songs they should work on, I told them not to work on anything…  to show up with a blank sheet of paper, that we were going to create new music and share our ideas to record the very first Rhonda & The Rage project as a complete joint effort.

We met for the first time in the studio, tossing around ideas, and trying the various combinations of voices and instruments.

Destination Life is the end result.”

Another departure from her recent recordings is the fact that this new project is not as focused on songs Rhonda has written, though she does have a couple of co-writes in the credits. Singer-songwriter albums have a long history of success in popular music, but talented as Ms. Vincent may be in that regard, it is as a singer and an interpreter of songs on which her legacy will be built.

For Destination Life, she has chosen eleven fine songs that suit her voice perfectly, mostly recorded here for the first time, and a classic instrumental. Rhonda sent along a set of personal reflections on the songs for readers of The Bluegrass Blog, which we include here along with a couple of audio samples.

Last Time Loving You  -  Listen now:   

I discovered this song from Alice Zincone in North Carolina, and Rick LaFluer. They allowed me to participate long distance, to collaborate via email in writing this version of the song. It’s become a new opener for our live shows; and a perfect showcase for Aaron’s incredible banjo work.

I Can Make Him Whisper I Love You  -  Listen now:   

Pete Goble sang this song to me, as he was passing by in a van, at the Charlotte, Michigan bluegrass festival.  He so eloquently whispered the lyrics. I was instantly intrigued by the song.  And thrilled that a year later; the song was still available.

Aaron joined in the harmonies, during the session; as we tested the song. His voice added a smooth silky texture to the trio.

Destination Life

I posted on my message board at www.rhondavincent.com and asked for song suggestions for the new project. This song was sent by Don McLean all the way from New Zealand.  It was written and recorded by New Zealand artist Donna Dean. This is the first US recording and release of the song. I thought it was a perfect title to begin the new year with all our changes and a new destination.

Heart Wrenching Lovesick Memories

This song was sent by a recording engineer. It was a song from a new session; and the writer ask if he would pass it along. I’m sure glad he did. It’s written by Tonya Lowman; and became the first single from this new project. We received a call, asking if I was singing all the harmonies on this cut. I was amused by this, especially since there are no guests, or double takes; since it is solely The Rage. The harmonies were sung by Ben Helson and Aaron McDaris.

Crazy What A Lonely Heart Will Do – duet with Ben Helson

I was first pitched this song when I recorded for Giant Records, sometime in the early 90’s. I try to keep copies of any song that I like, even if it may not fit the current project; this song came to mind when Ben Helson joined The Rage. I’d always loved the song, but it just never seemed to fit. This time, it was perfect.

I played it for Ben, then ask him to sing a bit of it.  He said, ‘I don’t know it.’ I ask him to sing it anyway. My goal was to hear our voices together, just to know if there was a blend, and if the song could work for us. He may not have known why, but he humored me. Our voices did blend; and it was also a perfect song for Mickey to add a WEBER resophonic guitar. Another new addition to The Rage.

Anywhere Is Home When You’re With Me

As I reminisce about this project, I find I’ve been thinking of most of theses songs for quite sometime. This is yet another that I had heard a year or more ago; and kept for the right project.

I’ve become friends and fans of Jo Ellen and George Doering. I love their writing style; along with their unique brand of bluegrass. This is a fun song to perform; and offers an added challenge of changing up cities, stages, and friends each night.  Plus, it’s the perfect sentiment to our fans and family.

We’ll post the rest of Rhonda’s track notes – and a couple more audio samples – on Monday next week.

This past weekend at the Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Festival, Rhonda Vincent was viciously attacked on stage by an unidentified member of the class Insecta in the phylum Anthropda. She got bit by a bug.

Here’s video evidence, and proof that Mickey Harris of The Rage is a real trooper.

There are a couple more videos from the Amerlia festival on YouTube, including one of Hunter Berry getting dunked in the lake for charity.

Three of the songs were co-written by Ms. Vincent, and she also produced the recording, with the assistance of her fiddler (and future son-in-law), Hunter Berry.

Rhonda has made a point of promoting this new album as the first she has recorded using her touring band, The Rage, with no guest artists or studio ringers. In fact, her newly reconstituted lineup headed into the studio just a few days after being announced this past December, and have been performing with her live since January of this year.

The Rage consists of Hunter Berry on fiddle, Mickey Harris on bass, Ben Helson on guitar, and Aaron McDaris on banjo. Vincent plays mandolin in the stage show.

Berry also provides some mandolin on the new CD, Harris adds some resophonic guitar and McDaris doubles on 3-finger style guitar. All four band members provide harmony vocals.

Following the excellent Gospel collection, Church House Hymns, Parmley has switched tack and done what is mostly a secular album this time.

3 Silver Dollars features David Parmley on guitar and vocals, long-standing pal Dale Perry on banjo, guitar and vocals, bluegrass veteran, but relative newcomer to Continental Divide, Ron Spears on mandolin and vocals, with special guests, Ron Stewart on fiddle, Kyle Perkins on bass and Rhonda Vincent singing harmony vocals on Meadow On The Mountain (Where Mama Used To Pray).

For one of the 12 tracks on the album, Parmley has dug deep into family history by recording Pete Seeger’s Winsborough Cotton Mill Blues, a song that his father, Don, did over 40 years ago as a member of The Hillmen.

Other songs featured are Parmley’s cover of Country star Billy Currington’s That’s Just Me, the Tom T. and Dixie Hall-penned title track and two originals that Spears contributed, Carolina Rain and God Reached Down. Other well-established song writers, Ray Edwards (helped by Larry Cox and Jane Price) contributed Meadow On The Mountain and (helped by Terry Foust) Anniversary Of The Blues; and Robert Gateley with Ain’t Gonna Let You Drag Me Down, Dee Gaskin with Lilly Still Blooms In The Dell; and David Scott Coffey, with Refill Of Your Love, add plenty of contrast.

Audio samples can be found in The Music Shed, Pinecastle’s online retail vendor.

After a long day in the studio yesterday, Rhonda wrote that they planned to wrap tracking by this evening.

“So tomorrow, I start up at 10am with mandolin. Ben at 2pm for 3 harmony vocals and 2 guitar solos.  Mickey is planning to arrive at 7pm to work until he is finished with 3 harmony parts, and dobro on the duet Ben and I sing.

It’s been a lot of hard work, but worth every second. I feel in my heart that this project is going to be a landmark project in my career.”

Despite having recorded under her name for more than 20 years, this next project will be the first Rhonda has recorded with her full time road band. Current members include Mickey Harris on bass, Hunter Berry on fiddle, Aaron McDaris on banjo and Ben Helson on guitar.

Mickey has spent the past 7 years on bass with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, also singing harmony and occasional lead vocals on her show. He had also worked with Larry Stephenson and Sally Jones after spending much of his youth as a member of The Tipton Family, which included his grandmother.

Dog House Blues was recorded with a core group of musicians – Wayne Benson on mandolin, Jim Van Cleve on fiddle, Josh Williams and Darrell Webb on guitar, Aaron McDaris and Kenny Ingram on banjo, and Mickey holding down the bass and lead vocal spots. Rhonda contributes harmony vocals on three tracks, and Tom T. Hall adds a recitation on one of his songs.

Mickey tells us that he recorded the album throughout this past year, as he could find time, which he suggests was rare.

“I had all the tour dates with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, plus my wife and I had our second child in July. I also stayed quite busy with my 2 year old daughter too.”

In choosing material, Mickey wanted to include both songs that he performs with Rhonda, and ones that he has been singing for years. One that really caught my ear was his rendition of Gene Watson’s huge country hit, Farewell Party.

“I just started to do it by chance with Rhonda. In the middle of one of our shows, she was talking about singing recently with Gene Watson and asked if anyone of us knew one of his songs. Being a huge Gene Watson fan, I told her that I did and stepped up to sing Farewell Party. Since then, it has become my most requested song, so I figured that I should definitely record it on my next project.”

The Nine Pound Hammer and Why Did You Wander are likewise numbers which Mickey performs with The Rage, and he even included a banjo/bass duet, originally recorded by Earl Scruggs.

“You Can’t Stop Me From Dreaming is a tune that Kenny Ingram and I would play backstage for fun.  I have always loved tunes that were just bass and banjo.  Plus, I think that it showcases Kenny’s fine banjo playing, and also being a bass player, I wanted to have a song that features the bass.”

We asked Mickey to share a few thoughts about the other songs on the CD…

“Copper Creek and Don’t Wait Too Late are two songs that my great Aunt Sophie Tipton (Martha Tipton Haislip) wrote. I have been singing those with my family for years. There are also two Tom T. and Dixie Hall songs on this project. I’ve Got a Home and Take Just A Minute To Thank Him, which features Tom T. on a recitation. It was an absolute honor to have him on the song.

I wrote Coming Home To Stay.  It is sort of true to life for me. I always like to include at least one original tune. Move On In And Stay is an old Ray Price song that just caught my ear, and I thought I would record it someday. I have been saving it for about 10 years waiting for the right project to include it on.

The Blues Are Still The Blues is a song that came from Traditional Grass. I have had the pleasure on singing it on stage with Joe Mullins playing banjo with us a few times.  It is a fun song to do, and the audience seems to like it.

The title cut, Dog House Blues is an old Bill Monroe tune. It was written by the same man (Pee Wee King) who wrote The Tennessee Waltz. I changed it around a little and kind of made it my own version. I thought it was neat since I was a doghouse bass player. Plus, I can’t make any major vehicle purchases without thinking about what instrument I play. It sometimes causes me to have the ‘dog house blues.’

Man… banjo players are lucky.  Ha! Ha!”

All of the music on this project is terrific – good, traditional bluegrass with a country edge from time to time.

The title track will be included on the January edition of Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, so you can expect to be hearing it on bluegrass radio in the near future.

There are no audio samples online, but you can order a copy of Dog House Blues from Mickey’s web site, or from Rhonda Vincent’s.