I really enjoy country music. That wasn’t always the case. I began listening to country music in the early 1990’s at the encouragement of my friends, Steve and Patti Christman. That’s where I fell in love with the steel guitars, fiddles and cowboys.
Among others, like Travis Tritt and Tracy Bird, Vince Gill was one of my favorites. I loved that he could convice me in one song of his deep emotions and in another of his sense of humor. Back then, I never would have imagined that I’d actually be able to see him live in concert.
But that is exactly what I got to do, this past Wayne County Fair Season. Vince Gill was one of the performers the fairboard was able to bring to Wooster, Ohio. On September 13, 2015, my friend Angie Smith and I, joined what appeared to be a full house for a great Vince Gill concert.
The most striking thing about Vince Gill is that even with all his fame, he appears to be quite humble. There was no big announcement before he came on stage to perform. Before the concert, an emcee welcomed the crowd and said that in a few minutes Vince would be coming out. A few minutes later, a man walks on stage with the band and picks up the guitar. He starts playing and it turns out to be Vince Gill! Granted I was sitting in the last row, but I had expected a “Give it up for Vince Gill!” annoucement before he started.
Once he finished his first song, which was “One More Last Chance,” he thanked everyone for coming out to the fair. He stated how much he liked county fairs. Then he started his next song. Basically that was his act. He seemed less interested in talking than in playing and singing.
Bobby and I have both been to concerts where the performers would spend more time talking than actually performing. Vince Gill seemed to just love to sing and play. Now remember, I have enjoyed his music for years, but it wasn’t until I saw him in concert that I really appreciated his musical abilities. When you listen to a song on the radio, you don’t know who is doing the guitar playing. When you see him live, you see that Vince Gill is a master on the guitar.
Vince sang all his great songs as well as a couple of classics from Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. He shared with the crowd that Merle was one of his favorite singers of all time. He ended his concert with an encore, “Whenever You come Around.” A song that I later learned that he wrote after meeting for the first time, Amy Grant. For those of you who don’t know, she is now his wife. Vince Gill—a great peformer, musician and romantic. My kind of guy!
P.S. Before the concert, Bobby (my husband), got to talk to him for a few minutes. Here is a picture he got while Vince was talking to members of Keepsake, who performed the Star Spangle Banner before the concert.
I remember my mom and me going to see Porter Wagoner. We were below the grandstand in about the 5 or 6 row. I had on a purple shirt and he had on a purple sequined suit. Now I have liked him since I was a kid and to see him in person was (I guess you would say “on my bucket list”) a dream. Then my mom pokes me and says he keeps looking at you. I started paying attention to him instead of the words of the song and by geebies, he was looking at me a lot! I melted or course he was old enough to be my dad, but what the heck! Then it dawned on me I had on a purple shirt and that is what he probably was drawn to! But it was great!!!
I remember that concert. I think he was making eyes at you!