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Vince Gill’s Latest Album Is Filled With Love And Redemption

Posted: 12/21/2011

Fans of award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Vince Gill have a new album to enjoy and a chance to win an autographed guitar.

(NAPSI)—One of country music’s premier “guitar slingers” is back—and better than ever.

Singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Vince Gill has followed up his last release—the award-winning four-disc album These Days—with a new album, Guitar Slinger.

A New Direction

Gill thinks the strength of the new project comes from making a 180-degree turn from his earlier winning blueprint. Whereas the previous project was big and bold, Guitar Slinger is a personal and poignant collection of songs about love, reflection, redemption and spirituality, including what he considers three of the most powerful songs of his career—“Threaten Me With Heaven,” “Bread And Water” and “If I Die.” The album will be released in both a 12-song version and a deluxe 15-song version.

As hard as he is to please, he likes how the CD turned out. “I think the songs are better, I play better, I sing better and it sounds better,” he says. “Everything’s improving that’s supposed to. I feel like if there is a place I can improve most, it would be in writing songs, and these songs seem to have grown a notch from those on the last record. There are some beautiful, powerful songs here. There’s fun and tons of guitar playing. The first half of this record is as much about guitar playing as anything else, with long, extended and different styles of solos.”

A Trip to the “Crossroads”

Recently, Gill and singer-song-writer Sting performed in front of an invitation-only audience as part of the CMT Crossroads series. The show will premiere on Nov. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

Each episode of CMT Crossroads matches a country star with an artist from another genre, featuring them collaborating on each other’s most popular tunes. Past pairings have included Brooks & Dunn with ZZ Top, Dolly Parton with Melissa Etheridge, Brad Paisley with John Mayer, Sugarland with Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift with Def Leppard. Gill and Sting’s episode marks the first to be filmed in New York City in five years.

An Award-Winning Career

Gill has recorded more than 17 studio albums, sold more than 26 million copies and won 20 Grammys and 18 CMA Awards. The two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year is the only man to ever win five consecutive CMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards and the only songwriter to win Song of the Year four times.

In 2005, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Two years later, he became one of the youngest performers ever inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Gill says his main goal now is just to get better. “I have an interesting reaction to the Hall of Fame induction,” he explains. “Most people would surmise, ‘OK, I’ve accomplished that. I can go relax and take it easy. I’ve accomplished the greatest of whatever it is I could possibly accomplish.’ It has the reverse effect on me: It made me want to go earn it and fortify my place in the Hall. I say, ‘OK, now I want to prove to myself and to everybody else that it was warranted and good.’”

Guitar Sweepstakes

To celebrate the release of the album, fans can enter for a chance to win a guitar autographed by the “guitar slinger” himself. To enter, visit the website at www.VinceGillSweeps.com.

For more news about Gill and the new album, visit his website, www.vincegill.com.

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