Vince Gill
Photo Credit: Peyton Hoge
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined dignitaries from the entertainment and hospitality industries during Thursday's (Oct. 13)
kickoff of
Vince Gill Week at the visitor center in Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.
Dean presented a proclamation honoring Gill's "extraordinary talent and contributions" to the community and announced that
Gill will serve as grand marshal of the 59th annual Nashville Christmas Parade on Dec. 2. "Vince Gill is a great musician,
a great humanitarian and a great Nashvillian," Dean said. "If there is a need in our community, Vince is always eager to step
up and help. He truly embodies the spirit of generosity and charity that Nashville is known for. I am grateful for his many
contributions." During the ceremony, Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena CEO Jeff Cogen unveiled a special hockey-themed
Vince Gill bobblehead that will be given away at a future Predators home game. A representative from Fender Guitars presented
Gill an Eric Clapton model tweed Tremolux amplifier constructed at the company's custom shop in California. Aside from Clapton,
Gill is the only person to yet own one of the new amp models. Officials from Gill's label, MCA Nashville, presented a plaque
commemorating 26 million albums sold, 24 No. 1 singles, 20 Grammys and 18 CMA awards as well his 20th anniversary at the Grand
Ole Opry and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
