Rodney Vincent thinks he’s a lucky man; he’s made a career out of doing what he loves and his career began at a time where live entertainers had plenty of work.
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“I grew up in the variety stage of entertainment, I was lucky,” the Border-based performer says.
“But back in those days you had dances two or three days a week.
“Bullioh and Corryong and places like that used to have dances in the old hall, so that was the apprenticeship, the grounding I had.
“I had an old time dance band, I had The Glentones, I went to Melbourne and did television and did Dirty Dicks Theatre Restaurant and floor show work … even had a go at radio and acting for a while.”
It’s why Vincent feels for the young performers thrust into the spotlight on TV talent shows.
He still watches them all but laments the fickle nature of manufactured fame.
“I get really wild with The Voice and those sort of shows because it’s all about the judges and not the contestants,” he says.
“They get an hour on TV but they need more than that, they’re told they’re stars one minute then the cameras and band and attention are gone ... you do get the Guy Sebastians and Shannon Nolls, and Dami Im who survive and that’s great.
“I had the work to go to but now I don’t think you have the work out there for the young kids to go to, they throw themselves to the wolves.”
Vincent is among the most popular performers across the region, his annual Christmas shows at Albury’s Commercial Club sell out months in advance and his Anzac and Australia Day shows are equally popular.
He has just released his 22nd recording – Heart and Soul – which includes a mix of classic country and rock and roll covers and original songs.
The album was produced and recorded in Melbourne by Michael Cristiano and some members of The John Farnham Band.
“The production is a very important part of what we do,” Vincent says.
“The album is a mixture of country songs, a few original ones and a live song in there as well – that’s what I’m about, variety.
“I’m really pleased, it’s probably the best I’ve done.”
Vincent heads to Tamworth this week before returning for his annual Australia Day concert.
In May he hosts a tour through the US music heartland and this year also hosts trips Vietnam and Norfolk Island.
