Country Music News for the Country Music Enthusiast

Born in Gary, Indiana to the parents of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. James Towns, Rhonda, at the age of five months already had an ear for music. When she started snapping her fingers to music she attracted many of her parent's friends who often stopped over to admire her special God-given talent.

At the age of four Rhonda, nicknamed "Sissy," sang in the adult choir of her father's church. Rhonda's height only reached her father's knee, however her voice easily filled the entire church. Rhonda's parents relocated to Oxford, Alabama where Rhonda entered her first talent show at Coldwater Elementary School. Rhonda won first place for two consecutive years in the school competition. Soon after these successes, Rhonda's parents were asked if she could sing weekly on the country and western local television show. After some deep family discussion, her mother and father decided that she was too young to start a career. Her education was very important to her parents during this time.

Rhonda would entertain her classmates after school by standing up in front of the school bus every afternoon with her classmates who were always begging her to sing another song. Rhonda was very active in school activities such as public speaking, volleyball, track and field, the school choir, and the student body government.

Rhonda graduated from Oxford High School in Oxford, Alabama where she developed a "strong reputation" as a very talented singer, again singing for her classmates in the gym when the weather was inclimate and they could not go outdoors.

Rhonda also attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama where she trained as a vocalist and studied songwriting. She again enhanced her reputation as a talented singer by entering and winning the Miss Black Culture Pageant sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Rhonda was also a member of the Jacksonville State University Gospel Choir. Rhonda completed her sophomore year at Jacksonville State University.

Today, Rhonda is still striving to make her dream to become a reality. Rhonda lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she works for a major airline on a part-time basis. In her spare time, she travels to New York, California and Nashville to interview with contacts made through family and friends. In addition she is presently working as a print and runway model.

Rhonda sang the opening song, "Amazing Grace," for the 1992 Martin Luther King Republican pre-election Dinner, featuring Tony Brown as the keynote speaker. In April of 1991, she also appeared as a special guest singer for The Roy Ayers "Wake Up" Tour in Phoenix.

In addition to pursuing her career as a singer and songwriter, Rhonda has performed in television commercials, created advertising print work and has continued education and training. She has appeared in television commercials for the Arizona lottery, Channel 10, Maxwell House, Bell Road Toyota, Mitsubishi, and the Milwaukee Medical Institute. She also created advertising and promotional materials for John Peele, Inc., Ted E. Hall Inc., Marty Watts Advertising, Dillards, America West Airlines, and Kristi's Modeling Agency. Her education and training includes instruction by Margit Pollack of Lee Strasberg Studio in Los Angeles, Kristi's Modeling Agency in Scottsdale, and courses from Actor's Lab Inc, in Scottsdale.

Rhonda was inspired by her mother in many ways and her influence continues today. Mrs. Towns instilled in Rhonda that there is no such thing as "can't." She was also inspired by artists such as The Judds, Wynonna Judd, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, Vince Gill and Sissy Spacek.

Rhonda believes that she is fortunate to have had the stability of her home as a child, she says, "the most important thing in life is to follow your dreams and the first step to doing this is set and reach goals no matter how big."

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