Vince Gill
Vince Gill started out as a multi-layered bluegrass picker and singer, working with a band called Mountain Smoke, which gained enough popularity to open for Pure Prairie League. He played in several other bands, including Ricky Skaggs' Boone Creek, before he auditioned for Pure Prairie League and became their lead singer for three albums. He then joined Rodney Crowell's backing band, The Cherry Bombs. His solo career began with the 1984 release, Turn Me Loose, on RCA. A few modest successes followed, but it wasn't until he moved to MCA and released When I Call Your Name that Gill was launched to stardom.
For over a decade Gill has been one of the first gentlemen of country music, with a crystalline voice and a consummate musician, as well as a regular on the Opry and perennial host of the CMAs. He's a Grammy award winner, a multi-platinum selling artist, and even once turned down Mark Knopler's invite to become a full-time member of Dire Straits. Hit after hit came for Gill during the 90's, he returned to his bluegrass roots with 1996's High Lonesome Sound.
In 2000, he married Amy Grant, and in 2005 he joined up with Sheryl Crow and Brooks & Dunn for the Grammy-nominated song, "Building Bridges."
Previous Grammy Wins:
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "When I Call Your Name" - 1990
- Best Country Vocal Collaboration (with Ricky Skaggs & Steve Wariner) - "Restless" - 1991
- Best Country Song - "I Still Believe in You" - 1992
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "I Still Believe in You" - 1992
- Best Country Instrumental Performance - Asleep At The Wheel (Tim Alexander, Ray Benson, Cindy Cashdollar, Michael Francis, David Miller, Lucky Oceans, David Sanger, Ricky Turpin), Chet Atkins, Eldon Shamblin, Johnny Gimble, Marty Stuart, Reuben "Lucky Oceans" Gosfield & Vince Gill - "Red Wing" - 1993
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "When Love Finds You" - 1994
- Best Country Song - "Go Rest High On That Mountain" - 1995
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Go Rest High On That Mountain" - 1995
- Best Country Collaboration With Vocals - Alison Krauss & Union Station (Barry Bales, Ron Block, Alison Krauss, Adam Steffey, Dan Tyminski) & Vince Gill - High Lonesome Sound - 1996
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Worlds Apart" - 1996
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Pretty Little Adriana" - 1997
- Best Country Instrumental Performance (with Randy Scruggs) - "A Soldier's Joy" - 1998
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind" - 1998
- Best Country Instrumental Performance - Asleep At The Wheel (Ray Benson, Chris Booher, Cindy Cashdollar, Floyd Domino, Michael Francis, Larry Franklin, David Miller, Jason Roberts, David Sanger), Floyd Domino, Larry Franklin, Steve Wariner, Tommy Allsup & Vince Gill - "Bob's Breakdown" - 1999
- Best Country Instrumental Performance - Albert Lee, Earl Scruggs, Gary Scruggs, Glen Duncan, Jerry Douglas, Leon Russell, Marty Stuart, Paul Shaffer, Randy Scruggs, Steve Martin & Vince Gill - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" - 2001
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Next Big Thing" - 2003
Current Grammy Nominations:
- Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (with Brooks & Dunn and Sheryl Crow) - "Building Bridges"
(Bio courtesy of Kathy Coleman)