Happy Birthday Vince Gill

All of us have our favorite Grand Ole Opry stars and as I have admitted before, Vince Gill is one of mine. I have always enjoyed his ballads and the way he plays and sings not only country music, but bluegrass. He has also committed himself to the Opry and has challenged others to appear on the show.

On Tuesday April 12, Vince will be celebrating his 54th birthday. Since coming to Nashville, Vince has been one of the most awarded artists in country music history. He has won numerous CMA awards, holds the record for most Grammy Awards won by a country music artist, and in 2007, he was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is also married to the very talented Amy Grant. They are considered one of Nashville's "power couples."

What I appreciate most about Vince is that since he became an Opry member, he has regularly supported the show. He generally appears at least 20 times each year and he is very vocal in his support for the Opry. When he does the Opry, he is assigned dressing room #1, Roy Acuff's old dressing room. In fact, Roy considered him one of his favorite singers. One of my vivid images of Vince and Roy is Vince on stage singing and Roy being shown on camera directly behind Vince mouthing the words as Vince was singing them. And Vince appreciated Roy Acuff. I also remember the time when Vince was doing an interview on the backstage show prior to the Opry one night and Lorrie Morgan was also on. Vince was calling out Lorrie and telling her she needs to, and should appear on the Opry more often. Lorrie was clearly caught off guard and gave some flim-flam answer about touring a lot and being busy, but she would try to do the Opry more often. If nothing else, Vince loves to perform. Every Monday night when he is in town he can be found at the Station Inn, playing and singing as a member of the Time Jumpers, a great western swing band.

This will be a big year for Vince as on August 10, he will be celebrating 20 years as an Opry member, as he joined the cast on that date in 1991. To honor Vince Gill on his birthday and to look back and remember his 20 years as an Opry member, I wanted to post the line-up from Saturday night August 10, 1991, when Vince Gill became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

6:30: Bonanza
Del Reeves(host); Skeeter Davis

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker(host); Bill Carlisle

7:00: Shoney's
Jim Ed Brown(host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper; Ray Pillow

7:30: Goo Goo
Roy Acuff(host); Osborne Brothers; Vince Gill

8:00: Martha White
Jimmy C. Newman(host); Jeannie Seely; Boxcar Willie; Roy Drusky; Opry Square Dance Band

8:30: Pops Rite
Hank Snow(host); Jean Shepard; 4 Guys; Mike Snider

9:30: Dollar General
Del Reeves(host); Skeeter Davis; Willis Trio; Teddy Wilburn; Bill Carlisle

10:00: Little Debbie
Jim Ed Brown(host); Charlie Louvin

10:15: Tennessee Pride
Roy Acuff(host); Vince Gill

10:30: Pet Milk
Charlie Walker(host); Jan Howard

10:45: B.C. Powder
Jimmy C. Newman(host); David Houston; Opry Square Dance Band

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow(host); Jean Shepard; Justin Tubb; Osborne Brothers

11:30: Creamette
Boxcar Willie(host); Jeannie Seely; 4 Guys; Mike Snider

On the 1st show, Vince sang, "Look at Us" and "When I Call Your Name". On the 2nd show he did "Pocket Full of Gold" and "When I Call Your Name".

Happy Birthday Vince!!!