Vince Gill

[Kim]

Vince Gill to Release New Single & Album


By Wendy Newcomer
gactv.com


Vince Gill fans, wait no more! Late this summer, he’ll release his first single in four years, “Threaten Me With Heaven,” which he co-wrote with wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and Will Owsley. The song is from his upcoming album, Guitar Slinger, due out this fall.

“Since the song was recorded, my friend Will Owsley took his own life, so the song has a profound impact on me now,” said Vince. “In my lifetime, ‘Go Rest High On That Mountain’ has been the song that helped a lot of people through their grief. I think this one will in turn hopefully do the same thing. It’s a powerful, powerful song. I feel like it’s the crown jewel of the new record.”

Also on Guitar Slinger are the moving songs “Bread and Water” and “If I Die,” as well as more lighthearted tunes that feature Vince’s unmatched guitar skills. Vince wrote every song on the album, which was the first project recorded from start to finish at his new home studio.

“I feel like the emphasis has been on the songs and the songs have gotten better,” he said. “They really run the gamut of what they are about, how they feel, how they sound. It’s not an all-traditional record, it’s not an all-contemporary record; it’s all over the map, like I kind of have always been. But it doesn’t feel out of step with anything I’ve done previously.”

Guitar Slinger is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed four-CD, 43-song box set, These Days, which was certified platinum, won the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Album and received an overall Grammy Album of the Year nomination. “That never feels anything but great,” he says of the album’s overwhelming reception.

Recording at home was a creative process. “I had no expectations of what it would sound like in my home studio,” he said. “I’ve never recorded in my house before. So I discovered an awful lot about how the rooms sound, and it’s a real warm record.

“I don’t know what it is, but it’s so different than most studios in that there are windows all the way around the room,” added Vince. “You look out and see trees. There’s such a great spirit running around in the house and in the rooms that all the musicians have raved about the vibe. It’s real low key; it’s not commercial-feeling at all.”

Guitar Slinger epitomizes coming home for Gill for several reasons. Not only did he record in his home, but he is joined on the album by his wife, Amy Grant, and their daughters Jenny, Sarah and Corrina. “Corrina makes her debut at nine on this record in a very dark song,” he says of “Billy Paul.” “It’s a song about a friend of mine who took his life after he took someone else’s life. It’s very, very dark, but I love that in music. I was always drawn to music with those kinds of things.”

On this new CD, Vince’s fans will find what they’ve always found with his music — great songs. “All I ever want to be is honest, truthful and authentic,” Vince said. “The thing I’ve learned as a musician, record producer and part of a cast that does what it is that we do is that the most important thing is to serve the song. It’s not to show off and play the most you can play or sing the most you can sing. It’s all in how do you serve this song the best and what keeps the song the real focal point of what you’re doing.”

Vince has sold more than 26 million albums, won 20 Grammys and 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year twice. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In recent months, he’s jammed with rocker Alice Cooper at a Nashville Predators game, backed Keb Mo, Crystal Bowersox and Sarah Darling on their individual Grand Ole Opry debuts and recorded with the Blind Boys of Alabama and blues guitarist and singer Joe Bonnamassa. He recently appeared on the CBS-TV tribute special Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country. His duet with Carrie Underwood of “How Great Thou Art” has been viewed on YouTube by more than 6 million people.

[Mallrat]

Vince Gill Receiving Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

06/23/11, 5:00 pm EDT

Vince Gill will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. Before launching his country career in Nashville, Gill moved to Los Angeles at 19 and played in a bluegrass band called Sundance, fronted by Byron Berline. At his first L.A. show with the band, Gill met Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and Guy Clark. "I had no idea how they would shape my future," he said. "There they were right off the bat, and we hit it off. I don't think I could have found a better place to go at that age. It would have been a much better situation for me than coming to Nashville at that time. It was really an amazing place to be." Gill lived in Los Angeles from 1976 until 1983. His wife, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, already has a star on the Walk of Fame, and Gill has asked for his star to be located next to hers.[/b][/font][/color]

[Mallrat]

Vince Gill Celebrates Fourth of July With James Taylor

07/8/11, 3:00 pm EDT

Sure, there were fireworks. But it was the crackle of sweet memories that resonated through Vince Gill's mind during the recent Fourth of July weekend as he stood onstage, singing with his musical idol, James Taylor.

Gill and his wife, pop and gospel singer Amy Grant, were Taylor's personally-invited guests at Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Mass., on July 3-4. Each show drew a sold-out crowd of 18,000 fans.

"It was a magical couple of nights," says Gill, who, despite his reputation for having recorded with virtually everybody else in the universe, had never worked with Taylor before.

"The first night we went out there , 'I've got to say thank you for letting me cross this off my bucket list. My big sister brought your first record into the house. I'll never forget it. I can remember her sitting there in her room and listening to that record even 40-some years later."

That album was Sweet Baby James, which came out in 1970 and instantly established Taylor as a major talent.

Taylor's invitation was unexpected, Gill says, even though he and Grant had been scheduled to perform in a tribute to Taylor at Carnegie Hall in April. They were forced to cancel their appearance when Grant's mother became gravely ill.

"I don't think this had anything to do with it," Gill says. "I think it was just last-minute. He called me a week and a-half or two weeks before that performance and said, 'Hey, I'm taking a long shot here, but if you're not doing anything July the Fourth weekend, we're playing up here, and I wondered if you or you and Amy or any combination thereof would come up.'

"It was perfect. We didn't have anything going on. So we jumped up there and had the trip of a lifetime. It was unbelievable."

Gill says his and Grant's parts in the shows required little rehearsal or preparation. "His band is world class. They charted everything out and had it nailed. It couldn't have been better."

One of Taylor's band members is fiddler Andrea Zonn, who years ago toured with Gill.

"I got to tell James' wife, Kim, the story of when Andrea called me [about working with Taylor]," Gill says.

The essence of that story is that Zonn phoned Gill and told him Taylor had asked her to go on the road with him but that she had turned him down in favor of staying with Gill.

Gill says his reaction to Zonn's display of loyalty was quick and decisive.

"I said, 'You knucklehead! Call him back. You've got to do that. This is the chance of a lifetime. Don't blow this.'"

Zonn did call back, and she's been with Taylor ever since.

"That was the cool part of this weekend -- the emotional tie for her. It was really fun to be a part of it."

On the second night's show, Taylor asked Gill to sing "Sweet Baby James" with him.

"That was a big old highlight right there," Gill says with a chuckle.

Among the songs Gill and Grant performed from their catalogs of recording, either separately, together or with Taylor, were the Grant hits "House of Love," "Baby Baby" and "Better Than a Hallelujah" and Gill's classic "Pretty Little Adriana" and "Whenever You Come Around."

"He's Beatle-like to me," Gill says of Taylor's musical impact. "He's the singer-songwriter that gave me the greatest place to shoot for."

It's shaping up to be a musically varied summer for Gill, who will bow his own album, Guitar Slinger, this fall.

On July 28-29, he'll play bluegrass shows at the famed Birchmere performance center in Alexandria, Va., a nod to his earliest musical roots.

"I don't envision doing what Ricky [Skaggs] has done -- leaving country music behind and playing only bluegrass," he says. "I don't think I would ever do that. ... But I've never stopped loving bluegrass. I don't get to play it as much as I used to -- not by choice but by circumstance."

As usual, Gill's been busy recording on other projects. He's on the upcoming tribute album to Guy Clark and has lately done guest turns on albums by Johnny Winter, Alice Cooper and the Celtic group Cherish the Ladies. He reports he's been putting finishing touches on his part of a new album by the Time Jumpers, the ad hoc band of superpickers that performs each Monday night at Nashville's bluegrass mecca, the Station Inn.

Besides all this, he's producing an album on his daughter and frequent singing partner, Jenny.

Gill played to an entirely new audience recently when the National Public Radio show Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! came to Nashville. On it, he was persuaded to play "Not My Job," a game which involves guessing at answers on a subject one knows nothing about, in this case another man named Vince -- the late actor Vincent Price.

Despite Gill's vowed ignorance of the topic, he racked up a perfect score. So he must be a fan of the show, right?

"I can honestly say I'd never heard it before," he confesses. "That's not my cup of tea so much, not because of content but because of lifestyle. I'm out playing golf. I'm not a radio bug or computer bug, and I'm less and less a TV junkie. It was fun, though. There's a bunch of braniacs there, so I was a little cautious."

Despite his multiple-Grammy winning voice and stellar guitar picking, Gill has always taken the most pride in his songwriting, a pride endorsed by his 2005 election into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Not surprisingly, he co-wrote all the songs on Guitar Slinger.

"I'm probably crossing over to writing more than just for a record now," he says. "For the longest time, when I was really busy and on the radio -- all the way immersed in it -- I wrote just for the record because there wasn't enough time [to write for its own sake].

"But now, I find myself sitting down and poking around with a few different ideas. I wrote a really neat story song the other day. I don't know where it came from or whatever. But it's dark and pretty edgy. This is probably the most creative space I've ever been in. I put a studio in at the house. So there's music at home all the time."

[Kim]

Vince Gill Leaves MCA Records


Vince Gill hit the Ryman Auditorium stage Wednesday (Feb. 22) to perform as part of a luncheon at Nashville's annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS), hosted by his longtime record company, Universal Music Group. Before singing 'The Red Words,' the country music icon made the surprising announcement that, after more than two decades with his label, he would no longer be on their artist roster.

"For the first time in 30 years, I don't have a record deal. Don't know that I want one," he shared with the audience of radio deejays and executives from across the country (quote via CMTT). "I'm just grateful for where I've been, and you've been a big part of where I've been and where I'm going. To my MCA family, it was really a sweet ride the last 23 years, and I appreciate everything you do."

The 54-year-old just released his tenth and final album for MCA, 'Guitar Slinger.' The first single from the project, 'Threaten Me With Heaven,' earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, even though the tune failed to break the Top 40. But Vince insists he isn't disappointed by the lack of airplay his songs have received in recent years.

"There's no artist that this didn't happen to," notes the Country Music Hall of Famer. "Not one. Well, maybe George Strait ... Anyway, people like different things. My grandfather said, 'If people all liked the same thing, everybody would be hitting on your grandma!'"

Vince may not have a record label, but he will continue to perform all across the country. His upcoming dates include stops in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, as well as a performance at the Grand Ole Opry tonight (February 24).

[Kim]

Vince Gill Sings for Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall


Vince Gill was among the stars who gathered at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium in New York for the Revlon Concert for the Rainforest on Tuesday (April 3). The country crooner-guitarist performed renditions of Don Gibson's classic 'I Can't Stop Loving You' and Roy Orbison's 'Oh, Pretty Woman' and was joined by actress/singer Rita Wilson (Mrs. Tom Hanks) on the Everly Brothers classic 'All I Have to Do Is Dream.'

Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Hudson, Esperanza Spalding and opera singer Bryn Terfel also participated in the event, titled 'Songs of the Silver Screen,' which featured former president Bill Clinton as a special guest. A performance of the Rolling Stones' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' featured the entire cast as an encore.

The event, which also saw Sting, Meryl Streep and James Taylor dressing up as characters from 'The Wizard of Oz,' and Elton John performing as hunky actor Channing Tatum performed a bump-and-grind dance routine, is organized annually by Trudie Styler, Sting's wife, and benefits the Rainforest Fund. The Rainforest Foundation International was founded by the couple in 1989.

Vince, whose current album is 'Guitar Slinger,' will next be heard on 'Faithless Love,' a track on Rita Wilson's album, 'AM/FM,' which is due out May 8.

[Kim]

Vince Gill to Embark on Bluegrass Tour


Everybody knows that Vince Gill is a multi-talented country music star. After all, you don’t become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and get inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for nothing. Unfortunately, it’s not often that Gill’s fans get a taste of exactly how talented he is. But this year, the multi-instrumentalist will take to the road to play a 12-date bluegrass tour — proving to fans and critics that his bluegrass roots are still intact.

The Oklahoma native will play with several musicians who also played in the late Earl Scruggs‘ band. Scruggs, a legendary banjo player, died on March 28, 2012 at 88-years-old.

“After the passing of Earl Scruggs, it means the world to me to do these dates with this world-class band playing the music that Earl defined,” Vince explains, according to the Boot. “I absolutely adore this music.”

Gill grew up playing bluegrass music, but changed his sound when he fronted country rock group Pure Prairie League in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he started his solo career, which took on a very authentically country sound. But that doesn’t mean that the award-winning artist has left his bluegrass roots behind.

“I just love playing music,” he notes to the Portland Press Herald. “I don’t know why some people have to think that if they do well they can’t be what they used to be. I like being what I used to be.”

This unplugged tour might sound a little unusual for Gill, as he has been focusing on his country career for a few decades. But he recently announced that he will be releasing an acoustic album with the Time Jumpers this fall. Sounds like Gill is getting back in touch with where he got his start!

Vince Gill Bluegrass Tour Dates:

6/13 – Richmond, Va. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
6/14 – North Myrtle Beach, S.C. | Alabama Theatre
6/15 and 6/16 – Alexandria, Va. | The Birchmere
6/17 – Charlotte, N.C. | Knight Theater
6/21 – Nashville, Tenn. | Ryman Auditorium
6/22 – Atlanta, Ga. | Atlanta Botanical Garden
6/23 – Hiawassee, Ga. | Anderson Music Hall
6/24 – Durham, N.C. | Durham Performing Arts Center
6/28 – Owensboro, Ky. | ROMP
6/29 – Lexington, Ky. | Lexington Opera House
6/30 – Wabash, Ind. | Honeywell Center

[Kim]

Vince Gill honored with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame




Yesterday, Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill added yet another accolade to his growing list — and this one was a big one. Accompanied by his wife, Amy Grant, and fellow country star Reba McEntire, Gill was honored to have his name immortalized in a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The iconic singer was treated to a ceremony yesterday, during which he was presented with the star as his friends, family and fans gathered for the special event. Gill received his star for achievements in his recording career.

McEntire took to the microphone to say a few kind words to her friend. According to Country Music Is Love, Gill was surprised to see her at the ceremony — most likely he had no idea that she was there to speak on his behalf. The red-haired country icon spoke highly of her friendship with Gill, a Grand Ole Opry member, before record producer Tony Brown stood up to rave about Gill’s musical and recording talents.

Of course, the singer’s wife, Amy Grant, stood up to say a few things about her husband, and she was kind enough not to dish about his embarrassing moments in front of the crowd. Grant told stories about the endless hours her main squeeze spends playing the guita, and how humble he is about his talents. She also told the crowd that Gill “goes where the music takes him.”

It sounds like not only did the ‘Threaten Me With Heaven’ hitmaker get his name immortalized in stone yesterday, but he got to hear his favorite people say wonderful things about him in public. Sounds like a pretty good day!

By the time Gill took the mic, he was overwhelmed at the kindness of his family and friends. “I look around and I am just so moved by the people who came,” he said.

The icing on the cake? The country star was happy to see that his Hollywood star is right next to his wife’s!