VINCE GILL These Days — An Essay This didn’t start out as a set of four very different CDs. There was no plan to record forty-three original songs and gather them into an unprecedented offering of diverse, accomplished artistry. When Vince Gill went into the studio with some trusted musical colleagues back in September 2005, he intended to assemble another in a long line of first-rate albums, mixing a little hard-core country, maybe a bluegrass number or two, perhaps a sacred tune. But— thanks in part to the Beatles—things turned out differently. It’s not that he hadn’t thought before about undertaking a lengthy exploration of the various musical sides of his creative self. Indeed, with an adventurousness rivaling Willie Nelson’s, he had imagined releasing a bluegrass record, a country record, a contemporary record, and an instrumental record all in a row. But, for whatever reason, he had never won support for his idea, and such a series of different releases was not in the cards as this project got underway. When Gill started in on the new album, however, something unusual and wonderful began to take shape. For starters, his prolific songwriting had given him a body of some forty new songs, from which he was to choose ten or eleven to record—a daunting task. Instead of trying to pick the winners on the front end, though, he simply went to work, determined to capture a song a day in the studio. At this relatively relaxed pace, Vince and his musicians were free to work on arrangements, on sonic textures, on making changes that occurred to them in the democratic recording process that Gill—a musician himself, after all—encourages when he’s in charge. This method quickly yielded remarkable results—the songs sounded good, and the musicians enjoyed the experience. “I had so many songs I wanted to record, and I really had no deadlines.” Gill recalls, “I just kept checking with the guys to see if they were available.” Five weeks later, when Gill and his musical cohorts came up for air, he discovered they had cut thirty-one songs, which meant that he would have to cull two-thirds of his work to turn in a single album. This is where the Beatles come in. Working at Blackbird Studios, some paraphernalia on the wall caught Gill’s eye and reminded him that the Beatles had released multiple albums in a single year. That set him to thinking. The songs he had recorded fell pretty neatly into distinct styles: traditional country songs, ballads, and some up-tempo, contemporary stuff. Why not release one album every three or four months, over the course of a year? Gill took the idea to Luke Lewis, Universal Music Group Nashville Co-Chairman, who supported his notion of multiple releases. Since Gill had an established fan base, more albums on the market would mean more sales in a year—and the music was good. Then, when the question loomed of which batch of songs to release first, Lewis came up with an even more radical strategy: record one more set of songs—Vince wanted to do an album exploring acoustic sounds and bluegrass—and release all four as a single package. Collectively, they would tell the story of the full depth and range of Gill’s creativity at this stage in his highly successful country music career. And that’s what happened.
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VINCE GILL
These Days — An Essay
This didn’t start out as a set of four very different CDs. There was no plan to record forty-three original songs and gather them into an unprecedented offering of diverse, accomplished artistry. When Vince Gill went into the studio with some trusted musical colleagues back in September 2005, he intended to assemble another in a long line of first-rate albums, mixing a little hard-core country, maybe a bluegrass number or two, perhaps a sacred tune. But—thanks in part to the Beatles—things turned out differently. It’s not that he hadn’t thought before about undertaking a lengthy exploration of the various musical sides of his creative self. Indeed, with an adventurousness rivaling Willie Nelson’s, he had imagined releasing a bluegrass record, a country record, a contemporary record, and an instrumental record all in a row. But, for whatever reason, he had never won support for his idea, and such a series of different releases was not in the cards as this project got underway. When Gill started in on the new album, however, something unusual and wonderful began to take shape. For starters, his prolific songwriting had given him a body of some forty new songs, from which he was to choose ten or eleven to record—a daunting task. Instead of trying to pick the winners on the front end, though, he simply went to work, determined to capture a song a day in the studio. At this relatively relaxed pace, Vince and his musicians were free to work on arrangements, on sonic textures, on making changes that occurred to them in the democratic recording process that Gill—a musician himself, after all—encourages when he’s in charge. This method quickly yielded remarkable results—the songs sounded good, and the musicians enjoyed the experience. “I had so many songs I wanted to record, and I really had no deadlines.” Gill recalls, “I just kept checking with the guys to see if they were available.” Five weeks later, when Gill and his musical cohorts came up for air, he discovered they had cut thirty-one songs, which meant that he would have to cull two-thirds of his work to turn in a single album. This is where the Beatles come in. Working at Blackbird Studios, some paraphernalia on the wall caught Gill’s eye and reminded him that the Beatles had released multiple albums in a single year. That set him to thinking. The songs he had recorded fell pretty neatly into distinct styles: traditional country songs, ballads, and some up-tempo, contemporary stuff. Why not release one album every three or four months, over the course of a year? Gill took the idea to Luke Lewis, Universal Music Group Nashville Co-Chairman, who supported his notion of multiple releases. Since Gill had an established fan base, more albums on the market would mean more sales in a year—and the music was good. Then, when the question loomed of which batch of songs to release first, Lewis came up with an even more radical strategy: record one more set of songs—Vince wanted to do an album exploring acoustic sounds and bluegrass—and release all four as a single package. Collectively, they would tell the story of the full depth and range of Gill’s creativity at this stage in his highly successful country music career. And that’s what happened.
Each disc in this set explores a different musical mood, which encourages sustained listening in the same way that satellite radio’s musically themed stations do. Each song on these discs has been carefully shaped and formed by Gill the songwriter, Gill the musician, Gill the singer, and Gill the producer (collaborating with engineer-producer Justin Niebank and musician-producer John Hobbs). Gill cast the songs in the same way that a movie director would cast a film, looking for role players who would help tell the story best and give character to the finished product. Every player, every singer, every part had to ring true to his ears, to what he heard in his head. Even the backing vocalists—perhaps especially the backing vocalists, considering how often Gill has been that for other singers—had to mean something. “I could go sing all those harmonies myself,” Gill says, “but then there’s only one heart, only one spirit, only one kind of thing on there. I think those textures, and the characters of Emmylou Harris’s voice and Sheryl Crow’s voice and Bekka Bramlett’s voice and Amy’s voice are what make them more interesting to listen to. I’m asking myself, ‘What voice do I hear on here?’” In one sense, Eric Clapton inspired Gill to follow his creative impulses. In 2004, Clapton called to invite him to participate in Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, a one-time gathering of master guitarists in Dallas. When he phoned, Clapton told Gill he was only inviting people whose work he admired. Gill follows a similar approach here, making musical artistry his yardstick. “I’m not ever trying to fill up my records with famous people,” he says. “I try to fill ‘em up with the most talented people I can find on the face of the earth. I feel like every time you try to make something better than it could be, you’re doing your job.” Gill has deftly matched his songs to the singers he asks to sing them. “The Rock of Your Love” is tailor-made for Bonnie Raitt, just as “Take This Country Back” is for John Anderson. Diana Krall loved “Faint of Heart” and was eager to record it. Phil Everly appreciated the Everly Brothers nod of “Sweet Little Corrina.” For Emmylou Harris, Vince inserted a “bluebird wine” reference (the title of a Rodney Crowell song that was the first track on her major label debut) into “Some Things Never Get Old.” The wistful “If I Can Make Mississippi” took on special meaning for Gill and Lee Ann Womack when they recorded it on the very day that Hurricane Katrina slammed that state’s Gulf Coast. And Vince says he has waited his whole life to hear the family harmony that he and daughter Jenny, now fully mature as a vocalist, got when they sang together on “A River Like You” and “Time To Carry On.” The songs themselves range in subject matter from the sacred (“Tell Me One More Time About Jesus,” co-written with—and featuring—Mrs. Gill, Amy Grant) to the naughty (“Cowboy Up,” with Gretchen Wilson), to the dark (“Which Way Will You Go”) and daring (“Molly Brown”). In style, they’re as quiet as “Almost Home” (featuring Guy Clark), as lush as “What You Don’t Say” (with LeAnn Rimes, and strings arranged by David Campbell, Beck’s father) or “This Memory of You” (also with Campbell-arranged strings, and guest vocalist Trisha Yearwood), and as rowdy as “Smiling Song” (Michael McDonald) or “Don’t Pretend With Me” (one of a half-dozen recordings graced by steel guitar legend Buddy Emmons). Finally, though, it comes down to this: never has a country artist so fully explored—or revealed—his creative soul in a single work. With These Days, Gill makes a major statement about who he is and where his musical journey has brought him. “I am as passionate today as I have ever been about playing music,” he says. The proof is in these four outstanding discs. “I believe I’m better now than I’ve ever been, and my wish is for everybody to come along on this journey and really get the opportunity to see what I’m doing. The crux of it, for me, is that the desire and dream have not waned one bit. I am still moved by music, and wish others to be as well.”
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VINCE GILL BIOGRAPHY
“Vince Gill is quite simply a living prism refracting all that is good in country music. He uses the crystal planes of his
songwriting, his playing, and his singing to give us a musical rainbow that embraces all men and spans all seasons.” - Kyle Young/Country Music Foundation on Vince’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame
Vince Gill – Vincent Grant Gill was born April 12, 1957 in Norman, Okla. His father encouraged him to learn to play guitar and
banjo, which he did along with bass, mandolin, dobro and fiddle. While in high school, he performed in the bluegrass band Mountain Smoke, which built a strong local following and opened a concert for Pure Prairie League.
After graduating high school in 1975, Gill moved to Louisville, Ky. to be part of the band Bluegrass Alliance. After a brief time
in Ricky Skaggs’s Boone Creek band, Gill moved to Los Angeles and joined Sundance, a bluegrass group fronted by fiddler Byron Berline. In 1979, he joined Pure Prairie League as lead singer and recorded three albums with the band, the first of which yielded the Top Ten pop hit “Let Me Love You Tonight” in 1980. Departing the group in 1981, Gill joined Rodney Crowell’s backing band the Cherry Bombs, where he met and worked with Tony Brown and Emery Gordy Jr., both of whom would later produce many of his future solo albums.
In 1983, Gill signed with RCA Records and moved with his wife Janis and daughter Jenny to Nashville to pursue his dream of
being a Country Music artist. His debut mini-album Turn Me Loose (produced by Gordy) was released the following year, featuring his first charting solo single, “Victim of Life’s Circumstance.” The Things That Matter, his first full album was released later that year, featuring two Top 10 hits: a duet with Rosanne Cash on “If It Weren’t For Him” and a solo hit with “Oklahoma Borderline.” In 1987 he achieved his first Top 5 single, “Cinderella,” from his album The Way Back Home. In addition to performing as a solo artist, Gill also worked frequently as a studio musician, wrote songs for other artists and toured with Emmylou Harris.
Gill signed with MCA Records in 1989, reuniting with Brown as a producer, and released the album When I Call Your Name.
While the debut single “Oklahoma Swing” (a duet with Reba McEntire) reached the Top 20, it was the title cut that firmly established the singer as new force on the Country Music scene. The song peaked at No. 2 and earned Gill his first CMA Award (Single of the Year) and his first Grammy Award (Best Male Country Vocal Performance) in 1990. The next single, “Never Knew Lonely,” peaked at No. 3 and the album was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than one million copies.
Declining an offer from Mark Knopfler to join Dire Straits as a full-time member, Gill went on to record his next album Pocket
Full of Gold, which also became a Platinum certified album after it was released in 1991. The album featured four Top 10 hits including the title cut, “Liza Jane,” “Look at Us” and “Take Your Memory With You.” That year he also earned his first CMA Vocal Event of the Year Award for his performance with Mark O’Connor and the New Nashville Cats (featuring Gill, Ricky Skaggs and Steve Wariner). In 1992 he released the quadruple-Platinum certified I Still Believe In You. The title cut became Gill’s first No. 1 single, followed quickly by “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away.” The album also featured the hits “One More Last Chance,” “Tryin’ to Get Over You” and “No Future in the Past.” Gill also topped the charts with “The Heart Won’t Lie,” his second duet with McEntire, which was featured on her album It’s Your Call.
Vince Gill co-hosted the CMA Awards for the first time in 1992. He continued to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” for
12 consecutive years, ending his run in 2003. Gill not only set a record for the most times anyone has consecutively hosted a televised award show, but he set the bar for other television awards emcees with his respect for his peers and the audience, quick ad libs and gentle humor.
Gill recorded his first Christmas album Let There Be Peace on Earth in 1993, before releasing When Love Finds You in 1994.
This album also sold more than four million copies and featured six hits including the title cut, “What the Cowgirls Do,” “Whenever You Come Around,” “Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn),” “You Better Think Twice” and “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” Becoming an in-demand duet partner, Gill sang with Amy Grant on “House of Love,” the title cut of her 1994 album which became a hit on adult contemporary radio stations, and with Dolly Parton on a duet version of her signature “I Will Always Love You” from her Something Special album that earned the duo the CMA Vocal Event of the Year Award 1996.
His 1996 album High Lonesome Sound leaned back towards his bluegrass days, with hits included the title cut, “My Pretty Little
Adrianna,” “Worlds Apart,” “You and You Alone” and “A Little More Love.” The Key, released in 1998, was a return to hardcore Country while chronicling the turmoil in his life including the death of his father and the breakup of his first marriage. The album, which was one of his most critically acclaimed releases and his first to top the Billboard Country Albums Chart, featured the hits “If You Ever Have Forever In Mind” and his duet with Patty Loveless on “My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man.” His status as an in-demand duet partner continued with his 1999 duet “If You Ever Leave Me” with Barbra Streisand on the latter’s album A Love Like Ours.
Gill married singer Amy Grant in 2000, and released Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye that same year. The album celebrated his new relationship and featured the hit “Feels Like Love.” The couple celebrated the birth of their daughter Corinna Grant Gill in 2001. Three years later, Gill released Next Big Thing, his first solo-produced album, featuring the title cut and “Young Man’s Town.” He reunited with Rodney Crowell, Tony Brown, Richard Bennett and Hank Devito (as well as new additions Eddie Bayers, John Hobbs and Michael Rhodes) as the Notorious Cherry Bombs, and the supergroup released an album in 2004 on Universal South Records featuring the single “It’s Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night that Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long.”
In 2006, Gill released These Days, a groundbreaking, four-CD set featuring 43 new recordings of diverse musical stylings. Each
album in the set explored a different musical mood – traditional Country; ballads; contemporary, up-tempo; and acoustic/bluegrass music. The set features a variety of guest performers including John Anderson, Guy Clark, Sheryl Crow, Phil Everly, daughter Jenny Gill, wife Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Diana Krall, Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt, Leann Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood and more.
Gill has sold more than 22 million albums. He has earned 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1993 and 1994.
He is tied with George Strait for having won the most CMA Male Vocalist Awards (five), and is currently second only to Brooks and Dunn for accumulating the most CMA Awards in history. Gill is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and has received 18 Grammy Awards to date, the most of any male Country artist. An avid golfer, he helped create the annual Vince Gill Pro-Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament (“The Vinny”) in 1993 in order to help support junior golf programs throughout Tennessee. Besides being known for his talent as a performer, musician and songwriter, Gill is regarded as one of Country Music’s best known humanitarians, participating in hundreds of charitable events throughout his career. Last month The Country Music Association announced that Gill will become one the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. Gill will be the third artist inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category, which was created in 2005. "Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest musical honor a Country Music artist and industry veteran can attain," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer.
FOR MORE INFO ON VINCE GILL, CONTACT:
Alison Auerbach
Alison Auerbach P.R. 615-269-6440
Erin Morris Morris P.R.
615-952-9250 [email protected]
Regina Stuve
Director, Artist & Media Relations 615- 524-7543
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 07, 2007
For More Information Contact: Wendy Pearl (CMA) (615) 244-2840 Scott Stem (CMA) (615) 244-2840 --------------------------------------------------- CMA Announces Ralph Emery, Vince Gill and Mel Tillis as Newest Members of Country Music Hall of Fame
Announcement Made at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum With Special Guests Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell and Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell
NASHVILLE - The Country Music Association announced today that influential radio and television personality Ralph Emery, multi-award-winning entertainer Vince Gill and legendary singer/songwriter Mel Tillis will become the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame.
Emery will be inducted in the "Non-Performer" category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II" and "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980" categories. Gill will be the third artist inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category, which was created in 2005. Tillis will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category.
"Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest musical honor a Country Music artist and industry veteran can attain," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "All three of these extraordinary men are highly deserving of this honor.
"Ralph Emery brought more than just Country Music into our homes via radio and television. His entertaining and thought-provoking interviews have always provided a unique glimpse into the personal side of our favorite performers.
"As a singer, songwriter and performer, Mel set a high standard for all entertainers. His presence in movies and TV alongside the top actors of that time gave Country Music a higher profile in the '70s and made Mel a pop culture icon.
Ralph Emery, Mel Tillis and Vince Gill
are announced as the newest
inductees of the Country Music Hall
of Fame at a press conference today
at the Country Music Hall of Fame
and Museum. (l-r) Tillis; Gill; and
Emery.
Photographer: John Russell /
CMA
Date: 8/7/2007 Resolution: 300 dpi Size:0.24 MB Type: jpeg/jpg
> Download
Ralph Emery, Mel Tillis and Vince Gill
are announced as the newest
inductees of the Country Music Hall
of Fame at a press conference today
at the Country Music Hall of Fame
and Museum. (l-r) Nashville Mayor
Bill Purcell; Brenda Lee; Gill; Barbara
Mandrell; Country Music Hall of Fame
and Museum Director Kyle Young;
Emery; CMA Chief Operating Officer
Tammy Genovese; and Tillis.
Photographer: John Russell /
CMA
Date: 8/7/2007 Resolution: 300 dpi Size:0.29 MB Type: jpeg/jpg
"Vince is the ultimate triple threat: a singer with the voice of an angel, a songwriter who conveys the joys and heartbreaks of life with every word he writes, and a consummate musician, who is equally at home playing guitar with Chet Atkins or Eric Clapton. As the longtime host of the CMA Awards, Vince also represented Country Music with dignity and humor for 12 years."
Emery, Gill and Tillis will be officially inducted in October during the traditional, invitation-only Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.
"It is with great pride that CMA will induct these three outstanding artists and personalities into the Country Music Hall of Fame, where they will join a small yet monumental group of entertainers and industry veterans whose influence on Country Music is enormous," said Genovese. "The Country Music Hall of Fame's Medallion Ceremony, which takes place during the annual reunion of the membership, has historically been the occasion where new inductees are presented the keepsake medal commemorating their ownership of Country Music's paramount honor," said Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Director Kyle Young. "The medals traditionally are presented by a member of the Hall of Fame during an intimate and emotional evening of homecoming, storytelling, music, memories and fellowship.
"We are honored that CMA sees our ceremony as the appropriate setting for the official induction of new members. Including the formal induction as part of the evening will certainly seal the event's reputation as Country Music's most prestigious night."
The announcements were made this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in a press conference hosted by Genovese. Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell congratulated the new inductees on behalf of Music City U.S.A. Emery was introduced by his longtime friend and former two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Barbara Mandrell. Gill was introduced by Young, while Tillis was introduced by his good friend and Country Music Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee.
All inductees are chosen by CMA's Hall of Fame Panel of Electors, consisting of more than 300 anonymous voters appointed by the CMA Board of Directors. Emery, Gill and Tillis will increase membership in the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame from 98 to 101 inductees.
> Download
VINCE GILL QUOTES
How did you react after learning that you will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year?
I was pretty overwhelmed, to put it mildly. After I found out, I got in the car and took off driving . and weeping.
How did you prepare for this announcement?
I'm not a speechwriter. I've lived my life off the cuff. It's so heady that I don't know if I can get my arms around it, even when it comes. I've been involved so much, just being on the Board here at the Hall of Fame for so many years and watching so many of the medallion ceremonies the Hall of Fame does down here, which are so respectful of those going into the Hall. I sing at them, play at them, and I'm always a part of them. So this will really be a mind-bender [laughs].
How is the Hall of Fame unique even among the other honors you've received?
This is the pinnacle of a career, hands-down. As a kid learning to play, I knew there was a baseball Hall of Fame. I knew there was a football Hall of Fame, because I was such a little athlete. But I learned music for the love of music, never with a result in mind.
Right now, how do you feel?
I'm just overwhelmed. An awful lot of people deserve to be here before I do, but I didn't have anything to do with the voting or how it happened and I'm grateful that people thought enough of me to select me for this.
CONTACTS: Heather Middleton
Nashville CVB 615-259-4767
Caroline Galloway Gibson Guitar 404-338-3469
Kim Dettwiller Gibson Guitar 615-330-5656
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME PRESENTED BY GIBSON GUITAR ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES
Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen, and Barbara Mandrell to
be Honored November 5 on Nashville’s Music Mile
Nashville, Tenn. – October 11, 2007 – Music City, Inc. today announced the third class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen and Barbara Mandrell. The six honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Monday, Nov. 5, beginning at 3 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The induction ceremony, which is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC), is free and open to the public. The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks. “This class of inductees showcases the immense talent, creativity and diverse musical styles that make Nashville, Music City,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Each honoree has left an indelible mark on our city’s musical heritage and music worldwide. It is a privilege to pay tribute to their great success.” Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame, on Nashville’s Music Mile, will be a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration. With the induction of this new class of honorees, there will be 18 total stars along the Walk of Fame. A new brochure promoting the Walk of Fame is now available in Visitors Centers, hotels and venues across the city. Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree’s name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Buddy Killen Circle at 16th Avenue South. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South. Nominations were open to the public and accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame selection committee. “This outstanding third panel of inductees showcases enormous talent which has its roots in our great city, Nashville,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “We are honored to sponsor the Music City Walk of Fame and look forward to celebrating Nashville’s rich musical heritage for many years to come.”
Vince Gill: Songbird or Hummingbird? You Decide
Newest Hall of Famer Faces Frantically Busy October
NASHVILLE -- October 9, 2007 -- This is not the month to invite Vince Gill out for coffee. He’s got a few other things to do. Besides promoting his current single, “How Lonely Looks,” the newest inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame will be buzzing between Nashville and New York for a variety of appearances, including stops at NBC-TV, the Nokia Theater Times Square, the Grand Ole Opry, the Medallion ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and RFD-TV. “How Lonely Looks” is from Vince’s epic 4-CD collection, These Days, which also happens to be up for the CMA Album of the Year award. Music Row reviewer Robert K. Oermann proclaimed “How Lonely Looks” his “Disc of the Day,” noting that Vince “moves me on every level—as a songwriter, as a vocalist, as an instrumentalist and as a human being.” Vince penned the song with Beverly Darnall, who was also his co-writer on “One Day,” which Eric Clapton cut on his Back Home album. On Wednesday, Oct. 10, Vince will join Jewel, Trisha Yearwood and Patty Griffin at the Nokia Theater Times Square for an “All For The Hall”
fundraiser to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Actor, director and novelist Ethan Hawke will host the event. A live auction is included. Vince is now in his sixth term as president of the Hall of Fame’s board of officers and trustees. Vince and his wife and fellow artist Amy Grant will be jointly profiled Saturday, Oct. 13, on NBC-TV’s Weekend Today. Amy will spotlight her Greatest Hits album and her latest book, Mosaic: Pieces Of My Life So Far. It’s back to the country on Monday, Oct. 22, as Vince visits RFD-TV to chat with his fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Ralph Emery, on the show Ralph Emery Live. A Grand Ole Opry member since 1991, Vince will recall the thrill of becoming a part of that revered musical institution when he welcomes MCA Records labelmate Josh Turner into the cast on Saturday, Oct. 27. On Sunday, Oct. 28, prior to the CMA Awards presentation, Vince and fellow honorees Ralph Emery and Mel Tillis will be officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the traditional, invitation-only Medallion Ceremony, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The following evening, Monday, Oct. 29, Vince and Tillis will journey to the Ryman Auditorium to perform for the 650 AM WSM 82nd Anniversary Listener Appreciation Concert. Emery will host. At the CMA Awards show on Wednesday, Nov. 7, Vince is nominated for Album of the Year, as well as Vocal Event of the Year (for “The Reasons Why,” with Alison Krauss.) On Tuesday, Nov. 20, Vince’s fans can purchase the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 From Chicago DVD. The 2-disc set includes six of Vince’s performances: “Sweet Thing,” “Country Boy” (with Albert Lee), “If It Makes You Happy” (with Sheryl Crow and Albert Lee), “Tulsa Time” (with Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and Albert Lee), “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” (with Willie Nelson and Albert Lee) and “On The Road Again” (with Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and Albert Lee). Like we said, busy. Contact: Alison Auerbach / AAPR / 615.269.6440 Erin Morris / Morris Public Relations / 615.952.9250
P.O. Box 210588 Nashville, TN 37221-0588
Phone: 615 952-9250 www.morrispr.biz
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Vince Gill
“These Days”
The 4-disc set featuring 43 all-new songs. Workin’ On a Big Chill (The Rockin’ Record) : The Reasons Why (The Groovy Record) : Some Things Never Get Old (The Country &
Western Record) : Little Brother (The Acoustic Record) Vince Gill boasts the artistry to match his audacious ambition on These Days… Gill displays remarkable versatility, stretching out from country and bluegrass, to rock, pop, jazz, and gospel… You will be amply rewarded with days of listening pleasure. - People Magazine His talents and the heart he puts into his writing, singing, and picking remain at their peak. This stellar collection proves it--four times over. – Amazon.com Cutting across genre lines from country to rock to pop to gospel, These Days is not only one of the most audacious projects in country music history but also one of the best -- any one of these albums on its own would be considered among the finest of the year…It's a journey like no other… – Barnes and Noble The record certainly reveals Vince to be a consummate musician, and in an assortment of genres … “These Days,” though, isn’t the work of an artist easing into retirement but that of someone reasserting his bona fides. – New York Times The musicianship is peerless, the vocals pure as mountain air and the production flawless. - Dallas Morning News These Days" marks a creative high watermark… The album is an immense achievement, and a bold thumb of the nose to the current short-and-sweet ideology of the music biz. - Detroit News The multidisc “These Days,” is a triumph. - Worcester Telegram-Gazette It’s unprecedented for a major artist to release four CDs’ worth of new material. Happily, Gill keeps the quality level high. - USA Today Gill hit upon a particularly fruitful creative period, and he's sharing the results. Popular music, currently bogged down in a period ruled by marketing and packaging, would benefit from more of this kind of out-of-the-box thinking. – Associated Press Gill's a breath-taking guitar player...the 4 cd set pays tribute to all these aspects of Gill's musical personality -- the country rocker, the bluegrass picker, the slick sentimentalist and the traditional country boy. The musicianship on this is virtuosic, never a stray note or breath." - NPR’s “Day To Day” Wretched excess? Not at all: These might be better thought of as four distinct, tight, hugely fun albums--in four fairly discrete styles-that Gill charitably bundles together. - Entertainment Weekly As These Days attests, Gill clearly has taken the right road. - No Depression
From the opening cut, "What You Don't Say," Gill proves he is an American pop songwriter par excellence. If all the music on the charts was done this well, with this much passion and soul and pomp, radio would never have lost its appeal. - All Access Music What it all adds up to is that this is Gill's masterwork. It's an exhaustive, profound, fun and fulfilling set that not only gives fans something to delight in…It is one of the major recordings not only of 2006, but of the decade so far -- in any genre. This is the treatment a seasoned artist like Gill deserves, and along with the benefit and support of being able to indulge in such a project, it lives up to the responsibility of delivering the goods in abundance.” - All Access Music And once the last note was finally played, the audience had spent a night in the honky-tonk, and behind closed doors, and at the rock club, and the bluegrass festival — and with an amazing singer, songwriter, and musician who had taken them to all of those places. - Worcester Telegram-Gazette (concert review)
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VINCE GILL CAREER STATISTICS
ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY 2006 These Days (MCA Records) (Platinum) 2003 Next Big Thing (MCA Records) 2000 Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye(MCA Records) (Gold) 1998 Breath Of Heaven (MCA Records) (Gold) 1998 The Key (MCA Records) (Platinum) 1997 Vintage Gill (RCA Records) 1997 35 All Time Favorites (BMG Special Products) 1996 High Lonesome Sound (MCA Records) (Platinum) 1996 Super Hits (RCA Records) 1995 Souvenirs (MCA Records) (Triple Platinum) 1995 The Essential Vince Gill (RCA Records) 1994 Vince Gill And Friends (RCA Records) 1994 Turn Me Loose (re-release) (RCA Records) 1994 When Love Finds You (MCA Records) (Quadruple Platinum) 1993 Let There Be Peace On Earth (MCA Records) (Double Platinum) 1992 I Still Believe In You (Video Hits) (MCA) (Platinum) 1992 I Still Believe In You (MCA) (5x Platinum) 1992 I Never Knew Lonely - Greatest Hits (RCA) (Gold) 1991 Pocket Full Of Gold (MCA Records) (Double Platinum) 1989 When I Call Your Name (MCA Records) (Double Platinum) 1989 The Best Of Vince Gill (RCA Records) (Platinum) 1987 The Way Back Home (RCA Records) 1985 The Things That Matter (RCA Records) 1984 Turn Me Loose (EP) (RCA Records) 1982 Here Today (Gill, David Grisman, Herb Pedersen, Jim Buchanan and Emory Gordy) (Rounder Records) PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE 1995 The Best Of Pure Prairie League (Mercury Records) 1981 Something In The Night (Mercury Records) 1980 Firin' Up (Casablanca Records) 1979 Can't Hold Back (RCA Records) BLUEGRASS/EARLY RECORDINGS 1975 Bluegrass Alliance: Kentucky Blue (American Heritage) 1975 Mountain Smoke: On Blue Ridge SOUNDTRACKS Honeymoon In Vegas 8 Seconds Maverick Indecent Proposal Ghosts Of Mississippi Switchback Long Journey Home Prince Of Egypt For The Love Of The Game Tin Cup The Apostle
VARIOUS ARTISTS ALBUMS Kermit Unpigged Mama's Hungry Eyes: A Tribute To Merle Haggard George Jones: The Bradley Barn Sessions Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles Red Hot & Country Asleep At The Wheel Tribute To The Music Of Bob Wills And The Texas Playboys The Essential Series- A Sampler One Voice Rhythm, Country & Blues Mark O'Connor And The New Nashville Cats The Festival Tapes- Tellulive Sounds Of Wood And Steel DUETS “If It Weren’t For Him” with Rosanne Cash “Oklahoma Swing” with Reba McEntire “The Heart Won’t Lie” with Reba McEntire “House Of Love” with Amy Grant “Matters Of The Heart” with Michael McDonald “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” with Gladys Knight “I Will Always Love You” with Dolly Parton “If You Ever Leave Me” with Barbra Streisand “My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man” with Patty Loveless “When I Look Into Your Heart” with Amy Grant *Vince has performed on over 500 other artists’ albums. SINGLE DISCOGRAPHY Release Date SINGLE TITLE: ALBUM TITLE: 10/8/07 “How Lonely Looks” These Days 4/14/07 “What You Give Away” These Days 8/5/06 “The Reason Why” These Days 3/20/04 “In These Last Few Days” Next Big Thing 10/11/03 “Young Man’s Town” Next Big Thing 11/9/02 “Next Big Thing” Next Big Thing 1/20/01 “Shoot Straight From The Heart” Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye 5/20/00 “Feels Like Love” Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye 1/29/00 “Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye” Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye 10/23/99 “If You Ever Leave Me” The Key 5/29/99 “My Kind Of Woman, My Kind Of Man” The Key 1/23/99 “Don’t Come Crying To Me” The Key 1/9/99 “Blue Christmas” Breath of Heaven 10/10/98 “Kindly Keep It Country” The Key 5/30/98 “If You Ever Have Forever In Mind” The Key 7/19/97 "You and You Alone" High Lonesome Sound 3/29/97 "A Little More Love" High Lonesome Sound 11/9/96 “Pretty Little Adriana” High Lonesome Sound 7/20/96 "Worlds Apart" High Lonesome Sound 4/13/96 “High Lonesome Sound” High Lonesome Sound 9/2/95 “Go Rest High On That Mountain” When Love Finds You 5/13/95 “You Better Think Twice” When Love Finds You 2/4/95 "Which Bridge to Cross” When Love Finds You 1/7/95 “It Won’t Be The Same Next Year” Let There Be Peace On Earth
10/15/94 “When Love Finds You” When Love Finds You 7/9/94 “What The Cowgirls Do” When Love Finds You 4/16/94 “Whenever You Come Around” When Love Finds You 1/8/94 “Tryin’ To Get Over You” I Still Believe In You 12/18/93 “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” Let There Be Peace On Earth 10/30/93 “I Can’t Tell You Why” Common Thread-Songs Of The Eagles 7/31/93 “One More Last Chance” I Still Believe In You 4/10/93 “No Future In The Past” I Still Believe In You 10/17/92 “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away” I Still Believe In You 7/4/92 “I Still Believe In You” I Still Believe In You 2/1/92 “Take Your Memory With You” Pocket Full Of Gold 9/21/91 “Look At Us” Pocket Full Of Gold 6/15/91 “Liza Jane” Pocket Full Of Gold 2/16/91 “Pocket Full of Gold" Pocket Full Of Gold 9/29/90 “Never Knew Lonely” When I Call Your Name 5/19/90 “When I Call Your Name” When I Call Your Name 1/20/90 “Oklahoma Swing” When I Call Your Name 9/16/89 “Never Alone” When I Call Your Name 6/4/88 “The Radio” The Way Back Home 1/30/88 “Everybody’s Sweetheart” The Way Back Home 9/19/87 “Let’s Do Something” The Way Back Home 5/2/87 “Cinderella” The Way Back Home 6/7/86 “With You” The Things That Matter 11/23/85 “Oklahoma Borderline” The Things That Matter 7/13/85 “If It Weren’t For Him” The Things That Matter 3/15/85 “True Love” The Things That Matter 9/22/84 “Turn Me Loose” Turn Me Loose 5/19/84 “Oh Carolina” Turn Me Loose 2/11/94 “Victim Of Life’s Circumstances” Turn Me Loose 1980 “Let Me Love You Tonight” Firin’ Up VIDEO DISCOGRAPHY VIDEO TITLE: ALBUM TITLE: The Reason Why These Days It’s Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Notorious Cherry Bombs Out All Day Long Someday Next Big Thing Next Big Thing Next Big Thing Feels Like Love Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man The Key (with Patty Loveless from A&E’s “Live By Request”) Blue Christmas Breath Of Heaven If You Ever Have Forever In Mind The Key You And You Alone High LonesomeSound A Little More Love High Lonesome Sound Worlds Apart High Lonesome Sound Go Rest High On That Mountain When Love Finds You When Love Finds You When Love Finds You What The Cowgirls Do When Love Finds You Tryin’ To Get Over You I Still Believe In You Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Let There Be Peace On Earth One More Last Chance I Still Believe In You Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away I Still Believe In You I Still Believe In You I Still Believe In You Liza Jane Pocket Full Of Gold Look At Us Pocket Full Of Gold Pocket Full Of Gold Pocket Full Of Gold
When I Call Your Name When I Call Your Name Never Knew Lonely When I Call Your Name Turn Me Loose (RCA) Turn Me Loose COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS (18): 1998 Vocal Event of The Year (“My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man” with Patty Loveless) 1996 Song of the Year (“Go Rest High On That Mountain”) 1996 Vocal Event of the Year (“I Will Always Love You” with Dolly Parton) 1995 Male Vocalist of the Year 1994 Entertainer of the Year 1994 Male Vocalist of the Year 1994 Album of the Year (Common Threads: Songs of the Eagles) 1993 Entertainer of the Year 1993 Album of the Year (I Still Believe In You) 1993 Song of the Year (“I Still Believe In You”) 1993 Male Vocalist of the Year 1993 Vocal Event of the Year (George Jones’ “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”) 1992 Male Vocalist of the Year 1992 Song of the Year (“Look At Us”) 1991 Male Vocalist of the Year 1991 Song of the Year (“When I Call Your Name”) 1991 Vocal Event of the Year (“Restless” w/ Mark O’Connor and the New Nashville Cats) 1990 Song of the Year (“When I Call Your Name”) GRAMMY AWARDS (18): Vince Gill is the only country artist to win an award for 10 consecutive years. Gill also has the most Grammy wins for a male country artist.
2006 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“The Reason Why”)
2005 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album for producer for Amy Grant’s Rock Of Ages . . . Hymns & Faith
2003 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“Next Big Thing”) **Gill also contributed a track to Livin’, Lovin, Losin”—Songs Of The Louvin Brothers which was awarded 2003 Best Country Album
2001 Best Country Instrumental Performance (“Foggy Mountain Breakdown” from the Earl Scruggs & Friends album)
1999 Best Country Instrumental Performance (collaboration w/Asleep At The Wheel’s “Bob’s Breakdown”) 1998 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“If You Ever Have Forever In Mind”) 1998 Best Country Instrumental Performance (for the track “A Soldier’s Joy” with Randy Scruggs from Scruggs’ album Crown Of Jewels) 1997 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“Pretty Little Adriana”) 1996 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“Worlds Apart”) 1996 Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (“High Lonesome Sound”) (featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station) 1995 Best Country Song (“Go Rest High On That Mountain”) 1995 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“Go Rest High On That Mountain”) 1994 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“When Love Finds You”) 1993 Best Country Instrumental Performance (collaboration w/ Asleep at the Wheel for “Red Wing”) 1992 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male(“I Still Believe In You”) 1992 Best Country Song (“I Still Believe In You”) 1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration (for the single “Restless” with Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs from the Mark O’Connor and the New Nashville Cats album) 1990 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“When I Call Your Name”)
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS(ACM): (6) 2007 Vocal Event (Brooks & Dunn “Building Bridges) featuring Vince and Sheryl Crow 2006 Humanitarian Award 1993 Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1992 Song of the Year (“I Still Believe In You”) 1992 Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1984 New Male Vocalist of the Year BMI SONGWRITER AWARDS: (20) 1999 Most Performed Songs: (“If You Ever Have Forever In Mind,” “You And You Alone”) 1998 Most Performed Songs: (“A Little More Love”) 1997 Most Performed Songs: ("Pretty Little Adriana," "Go Rest High On That Mountain") 1996 Humanitarian Award 1996 Most Performed Songs: (“Which Bridge To Cross {Which Bridge To Burn},” “You Better Think Twice”) 1995 Songwriter of the Year 1993 Most Performed Songs: (“I Still Believe In You,” “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away,” “Take Your Memory With You”) 1992 Songwriter of the Year 1992 Most Performed Songs: (“I Still Believe In You,” “Look At Us,” “Pocket Full of Gold,” “Liza Jane,” “Here We Are”) 1991 Most Performed Songs: (“When I Call Your Name,” “Oklahoma Swing,” “Never Knew Lonely”) 1987 Most Performed Songs: (“Oklahoma Borderline,” “If It Weren’t For Him”) SPECIAL HONORS 2006 ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award 2005 IEBA Humanitarian Award 2005 Inducted Into Tennessee Golf Hall Of Fame 2003 PGA Distinguished Service Award 2002 Elected President of Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum 2002 Belmont University “Applause Award” 2002 NARAS & BMI “Heroes Award” 2002 Nashville Sports Council “Community Spirit Award” 2001 Country Weekly Career Achievement Award (presented on the TNN & CMT Country Weekly Music Awards) 2000 NSAI Songwriter/Artist Of The Decade 1990-1999 1999 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame 1997 Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1997 Oklahoma Cowboy Hall of Fame 1997 Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Tour renamed the “Vince Gill Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Tournament” 1997 Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award 1996 Nashville Arthritis Foundation Eighth Annual Tribute Evening Award 1995 VH1 Awards Recipient 1994 Tennessean of the Year (Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame) 1994 Outstanding Nashvillian of the Year (Kiwanis Club) 1993 Minnie Pearl Award 1993 Harmony Award
CHARITY AND BENEFIT EVENTS “Lose Your Blues” Perry Ellis promotion for the National Coalition for the Homeless “All For The Hall” spear-headed benefit for Country Music Hall of Fame American Heart Association Anchorage Area Food Bank Baptist Hospital (Nashville) Belmont University (sports & music programs) Boys/Club/Girls Club CAPE (Child Abuse Prevention Efforts) Capital Area Food Bank (Vienna, VA) Caps For Kids Cerebral Palsy Foundation Children’s Home (Myrtle Beach, SC) Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters (Norfolk, VA) Christmas For Kids (Dayton, OH) Coats for Kids (St. Louis, MO and Hershey, PA) Compassion International Crossroads (Eric Clapton’s Rehabilitation Clinic-Antigua) Cystic Fibrosis (Baltimore, MD) Dayton Children’s Medical Center (Ohio) Easter Seals Feed the Children Food Bank (Selingsgrove, PA) Hidden Treasures (Greenville, SC) Holyfield Foundation Youth Scholarship (Atlanta, GA) Jackson Interfaith Shelter (Jackson, MI) Kidney Foundation Lincoln Food Bank (Nebraska) Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Make A Wish Foundation Mama’s Hungry Eyes March Of Dimes (Norfolk, VA) Memphis Make-A-Wish Foundation Mercy Homes Mid Ohio Food Bank (Columbus, OH) Nashville Interfaith Dental Care Parkinsongs Benefit Concert Pregnancy Crisis Center (Nashville) Providence House (Cleveland, OH) Saint Cecelia Benefit (Nashville) Salvation Army Santa’s Cops Sara Lee Classic Second Harvest Sound & Speed (benefit for Country Music Hall of Fame and Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp) South Shore Art Center (Cohasset, MA) Special Care (Children’s Disabilities) Special Olympics St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Storm Aid (Jackson, TN) T.J. Martell Foundation Tara Home For Boys (Myrtle Beach, SC) Terra’s Benefit The Ear Foundation The Healing Fund (Denver, CO) The Jimmy Everest Cancer Center
The Relief Fund/ The Red Cross (Oklahoma City Bombing) The Vinny Pro-Celebrity Golf Invitational (in support of Junior Golf in Tennessee) Toys For Tots (Jackson, MI, Moline, IL, LaCrosse, WI, Hershey, PA, Minneapolis, MN, Pittsburgh, PA) UMC Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Union Mission Ministries (Charleston, WV) Variety Club Of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV) Walden Pond Project (Rain Forest Fund) with the Eagles Walden’s Puddle (Nashville) Washington D.C. - Coat Drive for the Homeless Shelters
VINCE GILL CHRONOLOGY
1957 Vincent Grant Gill born April 12 in Norman, Oklahoma. 1964 Starts playing his dad's guitar. (He also studied violin for three years.) 1967 Given first guitar by his parents, a Gibson ES 335. 1974 Joins first band -- Bluegrass Revue. As a member of the Oklahoma City bluegrass band, Mountain Smoke, opens show for Pure Prairie League, a band he will join six years later. 1975 Records his first album, On Blue Ridge, as member of Mountain Smoke. Mountain Smokes' "July You're A Woman," on which Gill sings lead, becomes a regional hit single. Band opens for KISS and is booed off the stage. Graduates from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City, OK. Moves to Louisville, Kentucky, and joins Bluegrass Alliance. Stays with group for a year. Records with Bluegrass Alliance the album Kentucky Blue. 1976 Joins (but does not record with) Ricky Skaggs' band, Boone Creek. Moves to Los Angeles to join Byron Berline's group, Sundance. 1977 Records the album Live At McCabe's. Meets Tony Brown, who first signs him to RCA and then to MCA, where he becomes Gill's producer.
1979 Becomes lead singer for Pure Prairie League. Pure Prairie League releases Can't Hold Back. 1980 Pure Prairie League releases Firin' Up, which contains six of Gill's songs. Enjoys Top 10 pop hit with Pure Prairie League with "Let Me Love You Tonight." 1981 Pure Prairie League releases Something In The Night. Replaces Albert Lee--Joined Rodney Crowell's band The Cherry Bombs (includes future producers Tony Brown and Emory Gordy, Jr.). 1982 Rounder Records releases Here Today, featuring Gill, Herb Pedersen, David Grisman, Emory Gordy Jr. and Jim Buchanan. Daughter Jenifer Jerene born (May 5). 1983 Signs to RCA Records. Moves to Nashville. 1984 RCA releases Gill's mini-album Turn Me Loose. Charts for first time as a solo artist with "Victim Of Life's Circumstances," which goes to No. 40. First European tour. Wins Academy of Country Music's New Male Vocalist of the Year award. Films his first music video, "Turn Me Loose." 1985 RCA releases The Things That Matter. Has first Top 10 single--"If It Weren't For Him"-- a duet with Rosanne Cash.
1986 "Oklahoma Borderline" goes No. 11. 1987 RCA releases The Way Back Home. "Cinderella," which goes to No. 7, becomes Gill's highest-charting single for RCA. “Let’s Do Something,” with Bonnie Raitt as guest vocals, goes No. 16. Tours Australia with fellow guitarist Albert Lee. Wins BMI most-performed-song awards for "Oklahoma Borderline" and "If It Weren't For Him." 1988 "Everybody's Sweetheart" goes No. 11. 1989 Signs to MCA Records. MCA releases When I Call Your Name. RCA releases The Best Of Vince Gill. 1990 Declines Mark Knopfler's offer to join Dire Straits. Scores his first No. 1 single "When I Call Your Name." "Never Knew Lonely" goes No. 3. When I Call Your Name certified gold. Wins Country Music Association's Single of the Year award for "When I Call Your Name." 1991 MCA releases Pocket Full Of Gold. "Pocket Full Of Gold" goes No. 5. "Liza Jane" goes No. 5. "Look At Us" goes No. 4.
Sings and plays guitar on "Restless" with Mark O'Connor, Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs on O'Connor's album New Nashville Cats (Warner Bros. Records). Joins Grand Ole Opry (August 10). Pocket Full Of Gold certified gold. When I Call Your Name certified platinum. Wins 1990 Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for "When I Call Your Name." Wins TNN/Music City News awards for Instrumentalist of the Year and Single of the Year (for "When I Call Your Name"). Establishes Belmont Celebrity Basketball Game to raise funds for Belmont University's music business and sports programs. Wins BMI most-performed-songs awards for "When I Call Your Name," "Oklahoma Swing" and "Never Knew Lonely." Wins CMA awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year (for "When I Call Your Name," with Tim DuBois) and Vocal Event of the Year (with Mark O'Connor & The New Nashville Cats). 1992 MCA releases I Still Believe In You. RCA releases I Never Knew Lonely. "Take Your Memory With You" goes No. 1. "I Still Believe In You" goes No. 1. Pocket Full Of Gold certified platinum. I Still Believe In You certified platinum. I Still Believe In You (home video) certified gold. "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" goes No. 2. Wins 1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration Grammy for "Restless" (in conjunction with Mark O'Connor, Ricky Skaggs and Steve Wariner). Wins ACM awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (for "I Still Believe In You"). Wins TNN/Music City News Award for Instrumentalist of the Year. Wins BMI Songwriter of the Year award. Wins BMI most-performed-song awards for "I Still Believe In You," "Look At
Us," "Pocket Full Of Gold," "Liza Jane" and "Here We Are." Co-hosts CMA Awards show with Reba McEntire. Wins CMA awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Look At Us," with Max D. Barnes). 1993 "The Heart Won't Lie" (duet with Reba McEntire) goes No. 1. "No Future In The Past" goes No. 1. "One More Last Chance" goes No. 1. MCA releases Christmas album, Let There Be Peace On Earth. Sings "I Can't Tell You Why" on Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles (Giant Records). Best Of Vince Gill certified gold. I Still Believe In You (home video) certified platinum. I Still Believe In You certified double-platinum. Let There Be Peace On Earth certified gold. Wins 1992 Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for I Still Believe In You (album) and Best Country Song Grammy for "I Still Believe In You." Wins ACM award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Wins TNN/Music City News awards for Instrumentalist of the Year, Album of the Year (I Still Believe In You), Single of the Year (“I Still Believe In You”) and the Minnie Pearl Award (for humanitarian efforts). Establishes The Vinny, a pro-celebrity golf tournament to raise funds for Junior Golf. Does his second European tour. Wins BMI most-performed-song awards for "I Still Believe In You," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" and "Take Your Memory With You." Co-hosts CMA Awards show with Clint Black. Wins CMA awards for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Album (I Still Believe In You), Song ("I Still Believe In You,” with John Barlow Jarvis) and Vocal Event (for "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," with George Jones and others).
1994 "Tryin' To Get Over You" goes No. 1. "Whenever You Come Around" goes No. 1. "What The Cowgirls Do" goes No. 1. "When Love Finds You" goes No. 1. MCA releases When Love Finds You. Sings "The Farmer's Daughter" on Mama's Hungry Eyes: A Tribute To Merle Haggard (Arista Records). Sings "Ophelia" on the soundtrack album Maverick (Atlantic Records). Sings "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing" with Gladys Knight on Rhythm Country And Blues (MCA). I Still Believe In You certified triple-platinum. When Love Finds You certified platinum. Let There Be Peace On Earth certified platinum. Pocket Full Of Gold certified double-platinum. Wins 1993 Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy for "Red Wing" (with Asleep At The Wheel and various other artists). Wins American Music Award for Country Single of the Year (for "Whenever You Come Around"). Wins TNN/Music City News award for Instrumentalist of the Year. Does third European tour. Hosts CMA Awards show. Wins CMA awards for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist and Album (for participation in Common Threads: The Songs Of The Eagles). Wins Nashville Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Named Tennessean of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Named Outstanding Nashvillian of the Year by the Kiwanis Club. 1995 "Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn)" goes No. 2. "You'd Better Think Twice" goes No. 1.
RCA releases The Essential Vince Gill. MCA releases Souvenirs. Best Of Vince Gill certified platinum. When Love Finds You certified triple-platinum. Receives VH-1 Honors recognition for his contributions to Oklahoma City's Victims and Families Relief Fund. Wins 1994 Best Country Vocal Performance Grammy for "When Love Finds You." Wins BMI Songwriter of the Year award. Hosts CMA Awards show. Wins CMA award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Wins Nashville Music Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year ("Go Rest High On That Mountain.") 1996 "Worlds Apart" goes No. 3. MCA releases High Lonesome Sound. Souvenirs certified platinum. I Still Believe In You certified quadruple-platinum. When I Call Your Name certified double-platinum. High Lonesome Sound certified gold. Wins 1995 Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song Grammy awards, both for "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Wins TNN/Music City News award for Best Vocal Collaboration (for "Go Rest High On That Mountain," with Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs). Wins BMI Humanitarian Award. Wins BMI most-performed-song awards for "Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn)" and "You Better Think Twice." Hosts CMA Awards show. Wins CMA awards for Song of the Year ("Go Rest High On That Mountain") and Vocal Event ("I Will Always Love You," with Dolly Parton). Wins Nashville Music Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Artist/Songwriter of the Year.
Wins Nashville Arthritis Foundation award. Does his first Christmas tour, in which he and his band play with local symphonies. 1997 "Pretty Little Adriana" goes No. 1. "A Little More Love" goes No. 2. "You And You Alone" goes No. 5. Does his first sponsored tour-for Kraft Foods. High Lonesome Sound certified platinum. Wins 1996 Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for "Worlds Apart" and Best Country Vocal Collaboration Grammy for "High Lonesome Sound" (with Alison Krauss & Union Station). Wins BMI most-performed-song awards for "Pretty Little Adriana" and "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Hosts CMA Awards show. Elected to Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Cowboy Hall of Fame. Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Tour renamed "Vince Gill Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Tournament" in his honor. Wins the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. Wins Nashville Music Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Artist/Songwriter of the Year. 1998 "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind" goes No. 3. MCA releases The Key. MCA releases second Christmas album, Breath Of Heaven. Does tour sponsored by Country Music Television (CMT). Souvenirs certified double-platinum. I Never Knew Lonely certified gold. The Key certified gold. Wins Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for "Pretty Little Adriana." Wins BMI most-performed-song award for "A Little More Love."
Hosts CMA Awards show. Wins CMA Award for Vocal Event Of The Year for “My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man” with Patty Loveless. Does his second Christmas tour. 1999 Let There Be Peace On Earth certified double-platinum. When Love Finds You certified quadruple-platinum. The Key certified platinum. Breath Of Heaven certified gold. Becomes first country artist to headline A&E's Live By Request television show. Wins Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind" and Best Country Instrumental Performance for "A Soldier's Joy" (with Randy Scruggs). Records "If You Ever Leave Me" with Barbra Streisand. Wins BMI most-performed-song award for "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind" and "You And You Alone." Hosts CMA Awards show. Inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame.
RECENT CHRONOLOGY 2000 Wins Best Country Instrumental Performance for collaboration with Asleep At The Wheel’s “Bob’s Breakdown.” Marries Amy Grant (March 10). MCA releases Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye. The Vinny merges with the LPGA event, The Electrolux USA Championship and Grant’s celebrity/pro-am golf tournament, The Minnie Pearl Tee Party, which benefits The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. Named NSAI Songwriter/Artist Of The Decade 1990-1999 Hosts CMA Awards for the ninth consecutive year. In September, Gill & Grant announce that they are expecting a baby in March 2001. 2001 The album, Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye receives 4 Grammy nominations: Best Country Album: Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye Best Country Song: “Feels Like Love” Best Male Country Vocal Performance: “Feels Like Love” Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: “When I Look Into Your Heart” with wife Amy Grant Corrina Grant Gill born March 12 Awarded “Country Weekly Career Achievement Award” (presented on the TNN & CMT Country Weekly Music Awards) in June. Critically praised performance as part of the Brian Wilson Tribute which aired on TNT July 4. Gill performed “Warmth Of The Sun” and “Surf’s Up” with David Crosby and Jimmy Webb. On August 18, Gill celebrated his 10th anniversary as an Opry member by hosting the debut of the Grand Ole Opry on Country Music Television (CMT). He was presented his Opry Member Award during the live telecast. Hosted the CMA Awards for the 10th consecutive year. For the first time Gill and wife Amy Grant united for a holiday tour -- “A Christmas To Remember.” The 13-city event also featured the bluegrass trio Nickel Creek, contemporary Christian artist Rachael Lampa and the Nashville Symphony. 2002 Featured in several CMT specials: Hosts “CMT Bluegrass Special” and premier episode of “CMT Got Me In With The Band.” Featured performer in the nationally-syndicated PBS bluegrass special “ALL*STAR BLUEGRASS CELEBRATION." Co-produced wife Amy Grant’s CD -- Legacy…Hymns & Faith.
In support of Grant's new CD project, Gill makes media appearances and joins her on her six-week tour, playing guitar as a member of her band. Begins work on his next studio album. Gill joined legendary golfer and course designer Jack Nicklaus to play an inaugural exhibition round of golf at The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing. This event was the official grand opening celebration of the Nicklaus’ latest course. (Nicklaus won…72 to 73) ABC Television’s Primetime Thursday airs lengthy profile on Gill and Grant. Hosts CMA Awards for the 11th consecutive year. Debuts his brand new single by performing “Next Big Thing.” Performed at Katie Couric’s inaugural benefit for the Jay Monahan Center for Gasterointestinal Health and The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance in New York City in November. Performed West Side Story’s “One Hand, One Heart” as a duet with wife, Amy. Served as Master of Ceremonies for the Oklahoma State Capitol Dome dedication in November. 2003 Starts year off with a bang by performing a five-night stand at Nashville’s historic Exit/Inn in January. These performances served as a “warm-up” for Gill’s 14 city “Back To Basics” tour (Feb. 30-March 13). On February 11, Gill releases Next Big Thing, his 11th album for MCA Records. Album debuts at #4 on the Billboard Country Sales Chart. The album release resulted in a massive media blitz…music critics praising Gill’s latest project. He also performs on Late Night With David Letterman, The Today Show, The View, Imus on MS NBC and The Tonight Show.
“Next Big Thing” becomes a Top-15 hit. On March 17, MCA releases “Someday” as the follow up to the first single. This song is co-written with pop music sensation Richard Marx. Vince hosts and performs at the second annual “All Star Bluegrass Celebration” on April 2nd at the Grand Ole Opry House. Show aired on PBS.
The 11th Annual The Vinny Pro-Celebrity Invitational benefiting the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) was held on June 23 and 24. In its first ten years, The Vinny has generated $2.8 million for junior golf, providing support and expanding junior golf programs as well as supporting an endowment fund to perpetuate the future of junior golf in Tennessee. Raised money for tornado victims in Jackson, TN area by performing with Amy at Storm Aid on August 12. The PGA of America bestowed Vince with its highest honor, the 2003 Distinguished Service Award, in a ceremony Wednesday August 13th at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY. The event preceded the 85th PGA Championship, August 14-17, at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester. Gill joined an elite list of former honorees including Presidents Gerald Ford & George H. Bush, golfing greats Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Patty Berg and Jack Nicklaus and entertainer, the late Bob Hope. Releases third single “Young Man’s Town” September 22.
Jams with B.B. King on his 78th birthday at a show at King’s new Nashville club September 30. Gill and Amy Grant reunited for their second Christmas tour “Simply Christmas With Vince Gill and Amy Grant” from Nov.28 through Dec. 23. The shows featured the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and comedian Henry Cho. 2004 Vince went into the studio in January to begin work on a new album with the legendary Cherry Bombs. Formed in the late 1970s as Rodney Crowell's road band, the reconstituted Notorious Cherry Bombs include original members Gill, keyboardist Tony Brown, guitarist Richard Bennett, steel guitarist Hank DeVito and Crowell himself. Original bassist Emory Gordy Jr.did not participate in the project. Session bassist Michael Rhodes served as his replacement. Also added to the lineup were two other noted session musicians -- drummer Eddie Bayers and keyboardist John Hobbs. Bayers filled the slot previously held by Larrie Londin, who died in 1992. The Cherry Bombs reunited briefly in 2002 to perform at a music industry event during CMA Week. The entire band co-produced the Cherry Bombs' new album which was released July 27, 2004. Gill headlined the “Grand Ole Opry American Road Show 2004,” a national tour which showcased country music’s most beloved and enduring show, the Grand Ole Opry. The tour also featured Patty Loveless, Del McCoury, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Buddy Jewell. Gill was invited by guitar great Eric Clapton to join him and other incredible guitar players for the "Eric Clapton Presents The Crossroads Guitar Festival" June 6 in Dallas, TX. The DVD was released November 9 and features Gill's performance of "What The Cowgirls Do" and "Oklahoma Borderline." The unprecedented gathering of dozens of the world's top rock, blues, country, jazz and folk guitarists featured artists such as B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, ZZ Top, James Taylor, John Mayer, Vince Gill, Joe Walsh, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughn and many more. “The Crossroads Guitar Festival started with a list of players I admire, musicians whose work on the guitar has inspired legions of others to follow the same path,” said Clapton. Royalties from DVD sales will also go to Crossroads Center in Antigua, founded by Clapton in 1997 to provide treatment and education to chemically dependant persons. Gill wrapped 2004 by hitting the road again with wife Amy for their third joint Christmas tour. Vince has been in the studio with wife Amy Grant, co-producing her second Hymns album. 2005 Gill’s 2004 Grammy nominations were for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (“It’s Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long,” with the Notorious Cherry Bombs), Best Country Instrumental Performance (“Luxury Liner,” with Albert Lee and Brad Paisley, from the album Heartbreak Hill) and Best Country Song (“It’s Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night,” which he co-wrote with Rodney Crowell). Gill was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Songwriter/Artist category during the 2005 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony.
2006 As President of the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Vince spearheaded several projects, including “All For The Hall,” a fund-raising project for the Hall Of Fame. The other event was Sound And Speed. Gill and Kyle Petty were honorary co-chairmen of a new event which gave fans a chance to meet country artists and NASCAR drivers. Proceeds benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a non-profit organization started by Petty and his wife for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Named Academy of Country Music’s Humanitarian of The Year. Released critically-acclaimed 4 CD set These Days Oct. 17 – Certified platinum 2 months after release. “The Reason Why” was first single and video released from These Days. “The Reason Why,” featuring guest vocals from Alison Krauss, was a Top-30 single. 2007 These Days Tour resumes in February 2007 “Tell Me One More Time About Jesus,” track from THESE DAYS co-written by Gill and wife Amy Grant goes # 1 on the American Christian Charts. Gill to make repeat appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival Chicago, July 28. Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame Oct. 28. * All chart rankings are from Radio & Records.
VINCE GILL FACT SHEET
PERSONAL DATA Full Name: Vincent Grant Gill Birthdate: April 12 Birthplace: Norman, OK Childhood Residence: Oklahoma City, OK Current Residence: Nashville, TN VITAL STATISTICS Hair: Brown Height: 6'3 Eyes: Hazel EDUCATION Graduated Northwest Classen High School, Oklahoma City, OK-1975 INSTRUMENTS Instruments: Guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and Dobro Primary guitars played on the road: 1953 Telecaster; 1964 Stratocaster; 1948 Gibson J-200; E-flat Ripley Guitar; Eric Clapton Stratocaster MUSICAL INFLUENCES Brother (Bob), his parents, Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, Chet Atkins, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Don Rich and Buck Owens HOBBIES Golf Handicap: 1 Lowest Round: 62 Favorite course: Augusta National
TOP TEN FAVORITE ALBUMS Emmylou Harris- Pieces Of The Sky Linda Ronstadt- Heart Like A Wheel Joni Mitchell- Court And Spark Buck Owens- Carnegie Hall Concert James Taylor- Mudslide Slim & The Blue Horizon Bonnie Raitt- Sweet Forgiveness Sonny Landreth- South Of I-10 Stevie Wonder- Songs In The Key Of Life Bob Wills- The Last Time The Beatles- Let It Be VINCE’S TEAM Management: Booking Agent: Larry Fitzgerald/Terry Elam Rick Shipp Fitzgerald Hartley William Morris Agency 1908 Wedgewood Avenue 1600 Division Street, Suite 300 Nashville, TN 37212 Nashville, TN 37203 ph: (615) 322-9493 ph: (615) 963-3000 Public Relations: Record Company: Alison Auerbach MCA-Nashville Alison Auerbach Public Relations 60 Music Square East ph: (615) 269-6440 Nashville, TN 37203 Producer: Vince Gill Erin Morris ph: (615) 244-8944 Morris P.R. ph: (615) 952-9250 Regina Stuve MCA Records ph: (615) Website/Fan Club: www.vincegill.com updated 7/06
FOR MORE INFO ON VINCE GILL, CONTACT:
Alison Auerbach
Alison Auerbach P.R. 615-269-6440
Erin Morris Morris P.R.
615-952-9250 [email protected]
Regina Stuve
Director, Artist & Media Relations 615- 524-7543
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