It�s all of the above and more. Mindy is a wonderful, complex performer, unafraid to pour out heart, emotion and spirit for all who�ll listen�one of the more talented new performers around�and living proof that not everything coming out of Nashville is garbage. Course, Mindy isn�t from Nashville. Even worse than that. She�s a Yankee. From Long Island, no less. That�s OK Mindy. You had no choice in the matter. Good is good, no matter where it comes from. Mindy hasn�t been around the music scene long, but she made a big splash with a rendition of Jolene, which blew listeners away and put her voice on a tribute to Dolly Parton album that brought widespread recognition. Put simply, she did it better than the original or anyone else that tried. Before the first CD had been released, Mindy was featured on the Jay Leno show, had a music video on CMT, and had music executives scrambling to sign her. Not to mention Dolly Parton backing her. Mindy went against the tide and signed with Vanguard, an independent label, so she could do things her way. I call this integrity. Doing things your own way, refusing to alter your message even when it means walking away from a potential pile of money. When the CD did come out, the Americana Music Association named Mindy emerging artist of the year (2004). Mindy first caught my ear with Come to Jesus, a wonderful prayer and a profession of faith set to music. Faith is not always well received in this day and time; hypocrisy rules in most churches and it�s not cool to sing about Jesus outside of the confines of church, (now Buddha�s legal, Jesus ain�t ~ Jason Boland). Mindy is the real deal: a person struggling through life, honest about the battle she faces, unabashedly pleading for help, comfort, and guidance, and finding it in good measure. You�re liable to find a dose of relief in her music as well. While some might think this an impediment, a minister and his wife adopted Mindy as an infant. Mindy considers herself blessed. Her adoptive mother played a big role in Mindy�s life and introduced her to music. Another cruel twist awaited her; cancer claimed her mother�s life when Mindy was 19. We all need a mom. While Mindy�s is no longer alive, I assure you she�s still with her in spirit. Mindy drew inspiration for One Moment More from her loss. I listen to music for a variety of reasons and it takes different types to fill my needs and changing moods. Mindy comes to mind when I want a quiet, comforting sound, food for the soul with a touch only a virtuous woman can offer. Should you someday find yourself in need of that, you know where to look. Her website says she�s hard at work on a new CD. I�m anxious to hear it. Here�s an excellent interview on NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1623076 Her website: http://www.mindysmith.net/default.asp Her site at myspace.com: http://www.myspace.com/mindysmith And finally, her page at the Lonestar music store: http://lonestarmusic.com/artists.asp?id=942-------------------- About the Author - Don Henry Ford, Jr. When Don's not writing books he lends out his talent to Americana Roots to put together great articles like this. If you've enjoyed what you read, then pick up Don's latest book Contrabando: Confessions of a Drug Smuggling Cowboy at your local bookstore or online at Cinco Puntos Press.