Meredith Carson welcomes Texas singer-songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson for a live studio session at KGNU. Visiting Denver while on tour for his newly released album, Emerson talks about his roots in Canton, Texas, his journey from open mics to major stages like the Grand Ole Opry, and the stories behind his songs. He performs selections from his new record, including “Jet Plane,” “Living in the Past,” and “Little Wolf’s Invincible Yellow Medicine Paint,” along with Elizabeth Cotten’s classic folk song “Freight Train.” Emerson also shares insights into his songwriting process, performing solo versus with a band, and working with legendary songwriter and producer Rodney Crowell (Air Date 4/24/26).
Listen to the studio session here:
Transcript:
Meredith Carson: We’re in here with Americana Jukebox this morning, and we have right here, live with us in the studios, Mr. Vincent Neil Emerson. Vincent, is it Vince or Vincent?
Vincent Neil Emerson: It’s Vincent.
Meredith Carson: Vincent. Yeah. So you prefer your whole name. So do I. And you told me that you are from Canton, Texas.
Vincent Neil Emerson: I am, yeah.
Meredith Carson: And so how did you end up sitting here in our studios in Denver, Colorado, this morning?
Vincent Neil Emerson: I’m on tour right now. We’re playing two nights at the Bluebird Theater here in Denver.
Meredith Carson: That’s such a cool venue.
Vincent Neil Emerson: It is.
Meredith Carson: Where else have you been? Are you just out, or are you in the middle of your tour?
Vincent Neil Emerson: We were on a little break. The last show I played was the Grand Ole Opry.
Meredith Carson: Oh, well, yeah, that’s a pretty good one.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Yeah. It was pretty good.
Meredith Carson: I just finished watching that Ken Burns multi-part series on public television, Country Music. It was mostly all about the Opry and just how important it was as a building, as a gathering place. They pretty much decided who was going to be famous in country music for a long time. Now it’s changed a little bit since the beginning. Was that a fun gig? Have you played the Opry before?
Vincent Neil Emerson: That was my first time. It was really fun.
Meredith Carson: People come out?
Vincent Neil Emerson: Oh yeah, it was sold out.
Meredith Carson: Fabulous. And so maybe we’ll just ask you to go ahead and play a couple of tunes in a row.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Sure, yeah.
Meredith Carson: That work?
Vincent Neil Emerson: This one’s called “Jet Plane.” I have a brand new record out.
[Song: “Jet Plane”]
Vincent Neil Emerson: I’m playing another one off the new record. This one’s called “Living in the Past.”
Meredith Carson: Cool.
[Song: “Living in the Past”]
Meredith Carson: Vincent Neil Emerson live on KGNU in our studios for Americana Jukebox. That one, “I’ve Been Living in the Past?”
Vincent Neil Emerson: It’s just called “Living in the Past.”
Meredith Carson: “Living in the Past.” And the title of the first one?
Vincent Neil Emerson: What was the first one I played? I don’t remember. “Jet Plane” was the name of the other one.
Meredith Carson: “Jet Plane.” Yeah. Are both of those on the new CD?
Vincent Neil Emerson: They sure are, yeah.
Meredith Carson: Excellent. So how long ago did you finish up with that?
Vincent Neil Emerson: We just put it out April 17th.
Meredith Carson: Oh, cool. It’s brand new.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Just, just brand new, yeah.
Meredith Carson: Right out of the oven. Great. And recorded that in Texas, in Nashville?
Vincent Neil Emerson: Nashville, Tennessee.
Meredith Carson: I’m not up on your recording history. Where is this in the line of CDs you’ve released, albums?
Vincent Neil Emerson: I think this is the fourth one I’ve done.
Meredith Carson: Fourth one.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Fourth record.
Meredith Carson: Cool. And we can find them at our favorite record stores all over the place?
Vincent Neil Emerson: I hope so, yeah.
Meredith Carson: And online at?
Vincent Neil Emerson: VincentNeilEmerson.com or LaHondaRecords.com.
Meredith Carson: Okay. And Vincent Neil would be N-E-I-L if you’re going to do that for VincentNeilEmerson.com. That’s pretty easy. Great. And so when you play, normally you play with a band. When you get to do these solo things, like for record studios and on the air for radio, is that fun or is it a chore to sing without your band?
Vincent Neil Emerson: It’s fun. Some of the songs that I’ve got on the record are definitely geared more toward a full band.
Meredith Carson: Sure.
Vincent Neil Emerson: But I have a record where all the songs on the album were kind of intended to be played by myself, and we put instrumentation behind it. Rodney Crowell produced that one.
Meredith Carson: That’s a pretty good credential right there.
Vincent Neil Emerson: It was a good one, yeah.
Meredith Carson: One of the great producers.
Vincent Neil Emerson: He’s a fantastic songwriter, too.
Meredith Carson: Oh, God, yes. I got to see him at that Guy Clark festival down in Rockport, Texas, about a year ago, doing a whole evening of Guy Clark songs. It was fabulous. And Rodney was so enthralled with being able to do all the Guy Clark tunes. It was really fun to see him.
Vincent Neil Emerson: I bet that was a fun one.
Meredith Carson: It was. Let that festival know you’re around. They love songwriters. We’ll talk about it after we’re off the air, the Rockport Songwriters Festival. It’s in November every year. Could we have another tune or two?
Vincent Neil Emerson: Sure, yeah. I’m supposed to play originals, but I really want to play this song.
Meredith Carson: Play any dang thing you want.
Vincent Neil Emerson: I want to play this song. It was written by Elizabeth Cotten.
Meredith Carson: Left-handed guitar player.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Yeah, on a right-handed guitar. That was pretty tough.
[Song: “Freight Train”]
Meredith Carson: Vincent Neil Emerson with Elizabeth Cotten’s classic “Freight Train.” Do you play that ever in concert?
Vincent Neil Emerson: Mostly every show, yeah.
Meredith Carson: Good for you. That’s so great. She was an amazing player, and I guess a pretty ferocious person.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Oh yeah.
Meredith Carson: Did you start out playing like these seemingly simple folk songs, or did you go right in when you were a teenager with a garage band? How did you get where you are now?
Vincent Neil Emerson: I started out just learning some chords on the guitar and then trying to write songs immediately. I don’t think I learned very many covers. I wrote a couple of songs, and then I started to learn some covers, some old Bob Dylan songs, folk songs, and country songs. I got enough together where I could go hit an open mic, and I did that for a few years. Then I started playing gigs on my own.
Meredith Carson: What kind of age were you?
Vincent Neil Emerson: I think I was 16 when I learned how to play the guitar. I just kept doing that and messing around.
Meredith Carson: And here you are today, two nights at the Bluebird.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Two nights, yeah.
Meredith Carson: That’s so cool. Can we have one more from you? Then we’ll give away a pair of tickets to tonight’s show.
Vincent Neil Emerson: I’ll play a song called “Little Wolf’s Invincible Yellow Medicine Paint.” It’s a song I wrote. Very long title.
[Song: “Little Wolf’s Invincible Yellow Medicine Paint”]
Meredith Carson: Vincent Neil Emerson live in KGNU Studios for Americana Jukebox. Vincent, thank you so much for coming in today on a gig day. We really appreciate it.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Thank you for having me on. I appreciate you.
Meredith Carson: You are so welcome. Have fun at the Bluebird tonight and tomorrow. If I weren’t going to visit my grandchildren, I would be right there with you.
Vincent Neil Emerson: All right.
Meredith Carson: Thanks.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Well, maybe next time.
Meredith Carson: Yeah, maybe next time. Absolutely. Please let us know when you’re coming through town. I’d love to have you on again.
