This day in Oklahoma history: April 12

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – An award-winning musician was born in Norman on April 12, 1957.

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, Vince Gill was born on April 12, 1957, to Stan and Jerene Gill.

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By the time he turned sixteen, Gill was part of the bluegrass group Mountain Smoke. He later graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City before starting his music career.

He was a member of different bands like the Bluegrass Alliance and Byron Berline’s Sundance. Gill also contributed to three albums as a member of Pure Prairie League from 1979 to 1981, where he played guitar, banjo, fiddle and sang vocals.

Since starting his solo career, Gill has been awarded seventeen Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year two years in a row and Male Vocalist of the Year five years in a row. He has also won the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and The Nashville Network Music City News Minnie Pearl Award for his philanthropy.

His song “I Still Believe In You” went triple platinum and “When Love Finds You”, “Pocket Full of Gold” and “When I Call Your Name” went double platinum.

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Gill is also known for his humanitarian efforts. He has hosted a benefit raising more than one-half million dollars for the Red Cross and The Relief Fund after the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He also hosts the annual Vince Gill Celebrity Golf Tournament.

He has one daughter, Jenny, and married singer-songwriter Amy Grant on March 10, 2000.

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