“I Went Nuts”: Vince Gill Recalls the First Time He Heard One of His Songs on the Radio

Vince Gill released his debut solo album, Things That Matter in 1985. Before that, he was a member of several country and bluegrass bands. Today, he plays guitar in the Eagles, one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time. However, he can still remember the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio when he was still in high school.

In 2020, Gill sat down with Musicians Hall of Fame founder and CEO Joe Chambers to talk about his life and career. During their conversation, the “One More Last Chance” singer reflected on his early days in the music business and the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio.

[RELATED: Vince Gill Recalls the Moment He Knew He Would Be a “Heathen Musician” for the Rest of His Life]

Vince Gill on Hearing Himself on the Radio for the First Time

“I went nuts,” Vince Gill said about how he reacted the first time he heard his record on the radio. “It was an old John Stewart song called ‘July You’re a Woman.’ We did it kind of bluegrassy with banjo and stuff. I played banjo on it,” he said of the song that became a local hit.

“I was on I-40. I could take you to the spot in Oklahoma City,” he told Joe Chambers. “I’m still in high school and I’m listening to the radio and they started playing it one day. And I was on my CB radio screaming at people saying, ‘They’re playing our record on the radio!’ Truckers were coming back saying, ‘Sounds good, kid,’ or whatever. I’ll never forget it,” he recalled.

“To this day, I still don’t like to get out of the car if one of my songs is playing on the radio. I like sitting there until it’s done,” he said, with a laugh.

Gill on Cutting His First Record

Vince Gill played in front of a crowd for the first time during an elementary school talent show. That performance let him know what he wanted to do with his life. As a result, he joined several bands throughout his early years. Bands he was in played school dances and other functions. Then, he found bluegrass.

“When I was probably a sophomore, I got involved in bluegrass. I really loved bluegrass. I never knew much about it but I joined a young band called the Bluegrass Review. They were some really great players for teenage kids,” he recalled. “They folded me in and helped me learn about bluegrass. That led to another band I was in called Mountain Smoke in high school and that led to my first record which was about 1974, I think,” he added.

“We made a record and, lo and behold, somebody played it on the radio. So, I’m still in high school and this song is a local hit of sorts and I’m getting paid to be playing these joints and the die was cast. I knew I didn’t want to go to college. I never even applied to a school,” he recalled. “My father was a lawyer, so I didn’t know how well that was going to go over when I told him I wasn’t going to go to college but I never got any grief from my folks for living my dream,” he added.

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