‘Queen of Bluegrass’ records in McKenzie
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McKENZIE, Tenn. — Rhonda Vincent and the Rage brought their six-time Grammy nominated music to McKenzie on Monday. “There’s an authenticity that you find in bluegrass that you don’t find anywhere else,” Vincent told WBBJ Monday. The “Queen of Bluegrass” brings her act to West Tennessee Monday to record a live concert DVD and said coming to the area is like being at home. “There’s something natural about McKenzie and about this entire area of West Tennessee that I think reminds me of home, so there’s a comfort that it brings for me,” Vincent said. The most awarded bluegrass act ever came to McKenzie after connecting with Bethel University’s Renaissance Program at a performance last fall in North Carolina. “She saw the group. She was playing two sets after us, and she fell in love with it,” said Travis McLeese associate director of the renaissance program. The program allows students to get scholarships for their musical talents without being required to major in music. “If you play a banjo, you can come to Bethel, get a scholarship to play that banjo, but major in business or biology or anything like that,” McLeese said. “Most bluegrass musicians, they want to go on the road,” Vincent said. “They don’t want to take time for college, and I think this is a great program that lets them perfect their craft, and they’re getting a college degree.” Those with the program say this is a big day for everyone involved. “It’s not only big for the Renaissance program. It’s big for our university. It’s big for our community,” McLeese said. Rhonda Vincent and The Rage will play Monday and Tuesday night in McKenzie. The free event is open to the public.
