Hi everyone! I’m Rhonda, and I am the rocker chick behind the scenes of the Unheard Bird.  Allow me to introduce myself and tell you all a little bit more about me, and my crazy life.  I live in South Carolina, out in the country.  I can’t say I know how to milk cows, brush horses, feed chickens or grow tomatoes.  But, I do know what “Down Home” is all about, and that’s pretty much me in a nutshell…all the way down to the music I write and play.  Music has been one of my closest friends, ever since I can remember.  Music runs through my veins, as much as oxygen fills my lungs.  My ultimate goal is to make life better, for as many people as possible, and make God smile in the process.  So, if you will, come along with me on a journey of music, love of life, and let’s do this together!!  Trips are always more fun with friends and loved ones.  So, come on, y’all!!  I’ve never met a stranger, so if you’re a friendly face, there’s always a seat reserved here with your name on it. I started when I was 2 years old singing in the church “choir” of toddlers…you can imagine…a bunch of 2 and 3 year olds, standing on the steps leading to the stage, singing “This Little Light of Mine”, “Jesus Loves Me”, and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”.  I’m sure I was a spectacle to behold.  You see, I’ve been wearing eyeglasses since I was 6 months old.  So, vision ain’t my forte.  I guess that’s why the Good Lord gave me great hearing, and the ability to play by ear, of which I’m eternally grateful. Fastforward to 5 or 6 years of age.  I’m at a potluck dinner after church in my hometown of Sumter.   We’re at the local Jaycees Hut and a friend of mine, a 10 year old girl named Dena, is playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but she’s skipping a note, and it’s throwing the whole thing off.  So, I walk to the piano, hit the note she was skipping to make sure it’s the right one…yep it is, and ask, “Is this what you’re trying to play?”  I play it, and the adults go, “That’s great, Dena”!  She replies, “That wasn’t me.  That was Rhonda”!  They all gasp that I can play music, and Mama realizes that I can play by ear, and so begins my lifelong musical journey. Our family was rich in love, but not money.  Most of my music training was a combination of what I could glean from at school, church and the hard knocks of hammering out songs at home. The first instrument I learned to play was a harmonica.  Then, I got a Casio synthesizer (keyboard).  That was a game changer.  Soon after, I began band class in middle school, learning to play French Horn.  Then, I got  a real piano in 7th grade.  It was a surprise that was going in the living room.  I thought it was gonna be a VCR, ha ha ha ha!!!!!  Boy, was I ever surprised.   What a gift.  And it was for me!!!  I’ll never forget it.   First song I learned to play by ear with two hands, was “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers.  It was the first song my parents ever danced to, and it’s their special song.  It’s a great song.  And besides, the extra brownie points wouldn’t hurt, especially since they had to rearrange the entire living room to accomodate it!  Mama didn’t raise no fool, lol!! Isn’t it crazy how a song can just put you in a particular moment, instantly.  Certain songs come on, and you can tell someone where you were, who you were with, and how you felt.  That feeling never gets old.  Well, since I’m the Unheard Bird here, throwing my neck out on the line for all the world to see…I couldn’t think of a more appropriate first entry…Evergreen’s song, “Bird On a String”, from their album, 20 Acre Farm.

January of 2012.  I’m in desperate need of good music and a million hugs.  So, I pack my gear and head to Taylorsville, NC.  I’m going to hangout with my girlfriends who are all in a band too, called The Ya-Ya’s.  Donna says she wants to go hear this band play in Boone, NC and they’re really good.  I’d never heard of them, but hey, I’m game!  So, off we go.  They were fantastic, and I immediately go the album and wore it out.   The whole thing is amazing.  But, I dearly love the song, Bird On A String.  I love a sad song.  I mean, the sadder it is, the better I like it.  Make me cry.  I’ll play it for a week straight.   WOOOOOOOO!!!!  Ok, this isn’t as sad as watching Steel Magnolias, so don’t worry.  But, it’s full of good lead vocals, pristine Martin guitar tone, and it moves me.   Bird on a String always takes me back to the mountains of NC. Good times and great friends.  I hope it will take you away too.