Sally Sandker Archives - Bluegrass Today

Welcome Faye Ziesing!

Sally and Matthew Ziesing, professional musicians who have individually and collectively performed with notables such as Rhonda Vincent, Little Roy & Lizzy, and the US Navy Band Country Current, announce the birth of their baby girl, Faye Monroe Ziesing, born on February 12, the same day as her daddy.

She weighed in at 8 lbs, 10 oz. Everyone is doing well.

Sally shared…

“We praise the Lord for bringing our precious daughter, Faye Monroe Ziesing, into the world and keeping us all healthy and safe. She is a true gift and blessing from above. She shares her daddy’s birthday and good looks. Her namesake is from mom’s side, the late Faye Thompson, and you guessed it, Monroe is our salute to bluegrass.

Thank you for the well wishes and prayers! We are so excited to raise our daughter on love and bluegrass.”

For those who didn’t know, Sally’s mom is Rhonda Vincent.

Congratulations to the new parents!

Sally Sandker Ziesing sings the anthem in DC

At yesterday’s Washington Commanders football game in Landover, MD, Sally Sandker Ziesing, guitarist and vocalist with US Navy Band Country Current, had the honor of singing the national anthem before kickoff. Sally, the daughter of the Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, appeared on the field in uniform and did a bang-up job singing The Star Spangled Banner.

Country Current also performed at FedEx Field on Sunday, entertaining attendees as they came into the stadium.

Sally said that it was a great day for her and her family.

“Praise the Lord, it was a monumental blessing to sing the National Anthem at the Commanders/Giants game, and share this moment with my husband, Matthew, our growing baby girl Faye, and representing my country serving as a sailor in the United States Navy.”

Have a look/listen…

She also shared a few photos of the band on stage. Well done, Sally and Country Current!

Congratulations Sally and Matthew Ziesing!

Sally and Matthew Ziesing celebrated their marriage on November 2 in Sevierville, TN. Sally is the guitarist and vocalist with US Navy Band Country Current, and the daughter of Rhonda Vincent. Matthew is the former mandolinist with the Little Roy & Lizzy Show.

The couple was actually married this past January, and held this ceremony on the 2nd so that family and friends could be included. They are expecting their first child, Faye Monroe, in February.

Congratulations to Sally and Matthew in all respects!

Rhonda and Darrin Vincent on the Opry for Easter

This past Saturday, the audience at the Grand Ole Opry got a special treat when the Vincent Family, a la The Sally Mountain Show, reunited for a set of Gospel songs. Rhonda Vincent and her brothers Darrin and Brian Vincent were on hand, along with their mom, Carolyn Vincent. Rhonda’s daughters, Sally Sandker and Tensel Burke, Darrin’s daughter, Victoria, and Tensel’s husband, Brent Burke all took the stage together.

Both Rhonda and Darrin are members of the Opry, Darrin with his musical partner, Jamie Dailey, and Rhonda with her band, The Rage. Sally had been a member of the Rage for a time, and is now headed to basic training preparing to take a position as guitarist and vocalist with the US Navy Band, Country Current.

Thanks to Sally who shared this video of the family’s first song, Precious Jewel, with Darrin, Brian, and Rhonda each taking a verse as the band changes key for each of them. If you never saw Sally Mountain Show back in the day, you’ll get a great example of these three harmonizing together. Rhonda plays fiddle, Darrin guitar, and Brian mandolin – just like way back when – with Tensel on bass and Sally on guitar. This was Tensel’s debut on the Opry stage. Carolyn must have been so proud seeing her two Opry member children on stage together!

Have a listen to this video, shot from the audience, and hear how beautifully the Vincents sing together.

Well done all!

We’ll share any other video from their show we turn up.

UPDATE 4/19: Sally has now also shared this video of she, Tensel, and Victoria taking turns on the old familiar favorite, In The Garden.

And this one of Carolyn singing Slippers With Wings.

Sally Sandker accepts position with US Navy Band Country Current

Sally Sandker has announced today that she has accepted an E-6 position in the US Navy to take the guitar/vocal spot in County Current. The group is the only one dedicated to bluegrass music in the US Navy band system.

A graduate of the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at ETSU, Sally is the daughter of Rhonda Vincent, and performed with her as a member of The Rage for several years. More recently, she has played guitar and sung with the Little Roy & Lizzie Show.

Sandker will report for boot camp in mid-May, after which she will begin working into Country Current, based in Washington, DC. This position is for someone who can sing both bluegrass and country music, which won’t be an issue for Sally. She had released an album of bluegrass, country, and Gospel music called God Is In Control, as Sally Lea Sandker in 2019.

When we caught up with her this evening, Sally was just back from a celebration dinner, having gotten her final medical clearance today. She told us that this has been a goal of hers for some time.

“I am very excited about this! This is something I’ve been working towards for a couple of years. I was supposed to audition in 2020, but the pandemic shut it down. I auditioned again last year but they ended up not hiring anyone.

I’ve lost 50 pounds getting ready, going to a plant based diet.

It’s a true blessing to be able to have a stable music career. I think COVID showed us all how difficult can be. My mom was sitting home just like everyone else when the pandemic hit.

This is a great way to represent the men and women who are out on the ships, defending our country. It truly is a special honor.”

Sandker will become the fourth ETSU grad in Country Current, as Caleb Cox, former guitarist and singer with Nothin’ Fancy, is going in with her. Also in the band now are Haley Stiltner on banjo and Henry Johns on pedal steel and bass, both veterans of the bluegrass program in Johnson City.

Sally says that she is excited to start working on singing with Caleb.

“It will be fun to work with another lead singer. We’ve already talked about working up some of the great Johnny and June or Conway and Loretta duets.

Caleb and I will be in basic training together in May.”

At this point, she is hoping to make the Navy Band her career, and spend the 20 years in the service to earn a military pension.

Caleb and Sally are replacing Kenny Ray Horton who has recently retired from the band. He is continuing his music career now as a civilian.

US Navy Band Country Current is lead by Chief Tina Catalanatto, who plays drums on the county side, and Chief Joe Friedman, who plays lead guitar. Also in the group is Patrick MacAvinue on fiddle, another bluegrass veteran who worked with Audie Blaylock, Charm City Junction, and Dailey & Vincent before joining the Navy.

Congratulations Sally and Caleb!