The Unheard Bird

Welcome back everybody!
Since some of us are still getting acquainted, allow me introduce you to my family. See this handsome fella?

That’s my husband, Buck. We just tied the knot on May 29. He’s a sexy, witty, Godly, faithful, hard working, fine hunk of manliness…and one heck of a blues harp player (that’s a harmonica y’all)…and he sings too!!! Most of all, he loves me wholeheartedly, and takes really good care of me. Can’t put a price tag on that, can we?

This here is a picture of my beautiful family:

See those two beautiful knock out young ladies? That’s our girls, Savannah and Emily! I can’t take credit for their beauty, I’m the new stepmama here. But, I am grateful they’re in my life, and I love them both very much.

So, now that I’ve introduced you to the family, let me introduce you to my band family!! I play in a band called, Sanctuary!

Yes, we play blues, blues rock, and I’m the wild card. We write our own songs and play covers. Here’s the motley crew:

Recognize the guy on the far right? Yep, that’s Buck! I get to make music and share a home with that rascal! Lucky me! On the far left, well that’s Fred. He’s the “Groove Daddy”! He’s the bass player, and he makes sure when he plays, that it sounds like a bass! If you’re a musician, you know what I mean. If not, it’s another way of saying he’s really good.
Next to him is Gene. He’s our guitar player. He’s an excellent guitarist. And he likes chicken…just ask him! He also grows and eats lots of ghost peppers. I love peppers, but I’m a wimp. Can’t be good at everything…
And well, I’m also in there. I play drums and sing. So yeah, the pink drums are mine. 🙂 People remember my drums, even if they forget the band name, or anything else they did that night, lol!! I didn’t buy pink drums for that reason. That’s another story for another day. But, definitely a side benefit.

Peanuts

So this year, my life has been really chaotic. I won’t bore you with all the reasons why (not today anyway). I have weathered the storms just fine, and believe that I will continue to do so, as time goes on. These are the times you’re just asking the Lord for a break from the chaos…just for a moment’s peace. And sometimes, we’re granted that precious moment of stillness; long enough to catch one’s breath before trudging onward. But, even still, if I’m being honest…I find that a very eerie place. Only because I can still sense the craziness all around, even if I’ve managed to dodge it for a little while. It usually means I’m in the eye of a storm.

Buck and I recently got the chance to see Brandi Carlile in concert. If you’ve never heard her music, you should do yourself a favor and check her out. She’s amazing. Her new album is off the chain good. One of my favorite tunes on that cd is “The Eye”. Three part harmony that gives you chill bumps and words that’ll haunt you in the crevices of your mind, where we don’t give access to anyone. It’s just a gripping song. So, I listen to this when I need a song to befriend me and commiserate.
“I wrapped your love around me like a chain.
But I never was afraid that it would die.
You can dance in a hurricane…
But only if you’re standing in the eye”.
(Brandi Carlile, The Eye from the album The Firewatcher’s Daughter)

See what I mean. It’s great. Thanks for spending time with me. We’ll hang out some more very soon. Love to all 🙂

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.