The popular and award-winning bluegrass duo of
Dailey & Vincent say their music is inspired by a deep love for America.
"We're very patriotic. We both have family members that served in our military, and we have a lot of veterans and their families that come to our shows," Darrin Vincent told J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV.
"We both have a deep, deep love for America, because we're a beacon of freedom for those who hope to have the opportunities that we all have to sit here today on TV and talk," Jamie Dailey said.
"There's friends of ours who have come from other countries that came here legally, who've come from the bottom and built up great companies," Dailey said. That's what makes me proud to be an American — he added just the freedom that we have."
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Dailey and Vincent formed their top bluegrass band in 2007 and have released seven albums, earning three Grammy nominations including two for Best Bluegrass Album and winning several awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association including Entertainers of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and Vocal Group of the Year in the same years.
The group also won Gospel Group of the Year (contemporary) from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America from 2009 to 2014 and Bluegrass Band of the Year (overall) in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Bluegrass descended from American roots music and is also considered a form of country music, stemming from the Appalachia region. The fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, upright bass and guitar are the trademark instruments of a bluegrass melody.
Dailey & Vincent have penned a number of songs with patriotic themes, including "American Pride" and "Till They Came Home."
Vincent said, "[Till They Came Home'] is a love story about people who went off to war.
"Being able to raise our children and freedom and have them to have the same rights that we have to go out and try to achieve the best that they can and not be censored in what they think and say is an awesome opportunity," he said. "This is what America is for me and my family."
The duo said they have a special connections to veterans, who have expressed great appreciation for their music.
"One of the things that our shows really touch me and makes me go home and tell my wife and cry is the veterans come up to our shows with their families and say 'thank you for not forgetting about us.'
"It's like how can you not remember them? It's over and over and over and they're just sitting there sobbing saying 'thank you for remembering us'. When you see that and see the compassion in their eyes, it really works on you."
During a performance of the song called "More Than a Name on the Wall" in Appomattox, Va., a WWII veteran sitting beside his walker, struggled to rise from his seat to salute.
"When he did that we couldn't even hardly get through the song," Dailey said.
"It was one of the most touching moments of our career and Darrin hopped off stage and embraced the gentleman," he said. "That's real. Nothing can explain how you feel when you're singing that and seeing an older gentlemen like that from World War II. He was old and it took everything he could muster to get out of his seat."
"He was just crying and I just had to hug him," Vincent said. "I felt like I needed to and it was the right thing to do. I jumped off stage and hugged him.
"We have many, many stories that we can tell on and on, but it's just wonderful to be able to give back to the veterans and say thank you."
Dailey & Vincent just released "ALIVE! In Concert," which can only be purchased at
Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores.
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