Way to Go, Kenny & Amanda!

Congratulations to bluegrass artists and Patrick County residents Kenny and Amanda Smith! Their bluegrass and gospel group, The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, has been nominated for a Grammy, one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry, for their first gospel CD "Tell Someone".

"I started crying," said Amanda when she first heard the good news from a representative of Rebel Records for which they have recorded 3 albums including the Grammy nominee. "It just seems like a fairytale," she added, noting that the honor probably won't sink in until their plane touches down in Los Angeles. Kenny and Amanda will fly to L.A. for the 50th Grammy Awards on Sun., Feb. 10th. They'll go up against some very stiff competition including multiple Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs and others. However, their Grammy nominated recording is outstanding and could well take the award for Best Southern Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album, the category in which they are nominated. Win or not, the nomination is a monumental accomplishment for any artist and will only boost the career of a very fine and deserving band. "It's such an honor," said Kenny of the Grammy nomination. "That's one of the highest honors" we've ever gotten, he added.

Kenny is no stranger to awards. He is a 2-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Guitarist of the year. Kenny Smith is also widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. Amanda has a wonderful voice, having grown up singing in church choirs and participating in talent contests at local fairs. To me, it seems that their voices were meant for each other, as the duo create some of the tightest and most beautiful harmonies imagionable. The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band was nominated for the IBMA's prestigious Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2003. With their Grammy nomination, the band has truly emerged!

About 400 music fans braved the cold rain and threat of icy weather Saturday night to hear two live performances by The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, the headlining act at the Patrick County Music Association's (PCMA)Holiday Jamboree at Rotary Field in Stuart. Kenny and Amanda love performing before enthusiastic and appreciating PCMA audiences. While neither Kenny nor Amanda have families in this area, they have many friends and supportive neighbors. "We feel like we have family here," said Kenny. Kenny and Amanda are genuinely wonderful people and I am glad that they chose to make Patrick County (Vesta) their home. I am very proud of this talented couple and their band (Aaron Williams of Blacksburg, VA, on mandolin and Zachary McLamb, a Benson, NC native who plays bass), and honored to play their music and interview them on my radio show. Go get 'em, Kenny and Amanda, and bring home a Grammy to Patrick County!

Until next time, may God bless you all a "great day"!

Richard