Country music singer vice gill biography

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Born on April 12, 1957, in Norman, Okla., Vince Gill enjoyed acclaim in the bluegrass and pop worlds before actively pursuing a career in mainstream country during the '80s. His greatest passions -- music and golf -- were influenced by his father, a federal appellate court judge. After performing in a band in high school, Gill joined the Bluegrass Alliance and moved to Kentucky in 1975. His brief stint in Kentucky also allowed him to play in Ricky Skaggs' bluegrass band, Boone Creek. In 1976, Gill moved to Los Angeles where he joined Sundance, a band fronted by fiddler Byron Berline. He became the lead singer in the country-rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979, performing its hits "Let Me Love You Tonight" and "Still Right Here in My Heart" in 1980-81. He then returned to sideman work in the Cherry Bombs, backing Rodney Crowell thumb|300px|right|Vince Gill - I Still Believe in Youand Rosanne Cash. During their tenure in the Cherry Bombs, Gill and keyboardist Tony Brown began a friendship that led to Gill being signed to both the RCA and MCA labels.

A move to Nashville in 1984 coincided with Gill's recording contract after Brown, an RCA executive, signed him to the label. Gill's output at RCA resulted in three Top 10 singles -- "If It Weren't for Him" (with Rosanne Cash), "Oklahoma Borderline" and "Cinderella." However, Gill's early singles failed to propel him to immediate stardom. During the next five years, Gill spent most of his time backing others in the studio or touring with Emmylou Harris.

After leaving the RCA roster, Gill moved to MCA, where Brown was then a producer and label executive. After thumb|300px|right|Vince Gill feat. Reba McEntire - The Heart Won't Liemarginal success at RCA, Gill's 1989 debut album for MCA, When I Call Your Name, sold 1 million copies. His breakthrough at radio came with the title track that featured Patty Loveless on guest vocals. It went on to win single of the year hon

Humanitarian Work

Gill is a tireless supporter of humanitarian causes and charitable organizations, leading his good friend Rodney Crowell to sometimes refer affectionately to Gill as “Benefit.” Gill even named one of his music publishing companies Benefit Music.

The annual Vinny Pro-Celebrity Golf Invitational, begun in 1993, supports Junior Golf in Tennessee. In 2003 the Professional Golfers Association of America gave Gill its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in a ceremony preceding the annual PGA Championship.

Gill married Amy Grant in 2000, and the singing duo have toured together and collaborated in the studio. Grant’s CD Rock of Ages … Hymns & Faith, co-produced by Gill, won a 2005 Grammy for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album.

At Eric Clapton’s invitation, Gill appeared at Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004 and again in 2007, alongside Clapton and such other guitar greats as Jeff Beck, B. B. King, and Carlos Santana.

Since 2005, Gill has been president of the Board of Officers and Trustees of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and he has supported the museum through his All for the Hall initiative, which encourages fellow artists to support the not-for-profit educational organization through performing at benefit concerts.

Signaling his continued creative vitality, Gill in 2006 issued These Days, a four-CD set of forty-three new and original songs, on which he welcomed numerous guests, including Sheryl Crow, Phil Everly, Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Gretchen Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, and others. “The Reason Why,” a track from the set, won the 2006 Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance—another stellar achievement in a long, sustained career.

— Chrissie Dickinson

Adapted from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, published by Oxford University Press

(1957-)

Who Is Vince Gill?

Country singer Vince Gill's first solo album, Turn Me Loose (1984), earned him the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist Award. In 1989, Gill recorded When I Call Your Name, which was certified double platinum for 2 million copies sold, while the title track earned Gill a 1990 Grammy Award for best country song. Gill has since won more than a dozen Grammys and several other awards.

Early Life

Vince Gill was born Vincent Grant Gill on April 12, 1957, in Norman, Oklahoma. Gill's father, an appellate judge, taught him to play the guitar at an early age. Throughout his teens, he performed with local bluegrass groups, including the Bluegrass Alliance, Mountain Smoke and Boone Creek with future country star Ricky Skaggs.

In 1976, Gill joined the California-based band Pure Prairie League. The group's 1980 release, Firin' Up, featured six songs by Gill, including the No. 1 country hit "Let Me Love You Tonight." During his stay in California, Gill met and married fellow aspiring musician Janis Oliver, with whom he had a daughter, Jenny, in 1982.

Songs: "What the Cowgirls Do" and "Whenever You Come Around"

Gill briefly joined Rodney Crowell's band, the Cherry Bombs, before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where he signed a solo contract with RCA Records in 1983. His first album with RCA, Turn Me Loose (1984), proved to be an auspicious debut, earning Gill the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist Award. However, after an impressive start, Gill achieved only moderate success with his subsequent recordings. His most notable work during this time was as a session guitarist, playing with Reba McEntire, Emmylou Harris, Roseanne Cash and Bonnie Raitt.

In 1989, Gill switched labels and recorded the traditional country album, When I Call Your Name, for MCA. Eventually, the album was certified double platinum for two million copies sold, while the title track earned Gill