Gill was born in Norman, Oklahoma, the home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners and learned to play several instruments, including banjo and guitar before he started high school at Oklahoma City's Northwest Classen High School. After he graduated, he played in a number of bluegrass bands. He debuted on the national scene with the country-rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979, appearing on that band's album Can't Hold Back. Gill is the lead singer on their hit song, "Let Me Love You Tonight" (1980), which he was still performing in concert years later - thus, he said, confusing many fans who knew him only from his subsequent solo work. Gill appeared on two subsequent albums along with his then-wife Janis Oliver.
Departing Pure Prairie League in 1981, Gill joined Rodney Crowell’s backing band The Notorious Cherry Bombs, where he met and worked with Tony Brown and Emory Gordy Jr., both of whom would later produce many of his future solo albums.
Signing as a solo artist with RCA Records in 1983, he first charted while on that label. In 1989 he switched to MCA Records where he recorded his breakthrough hit "When I Call Your Name." His 1998 album The Key received great critical acclaim. His other albums include Next Big Thing (2003) and Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye (2000). The Guitar Slinger Songfacts says that Gill released his twelfth studio album, Guitar Slinger, on October 25, 2011 via MCA Nashville. It was his manager, Larry Fitzgerald, who came up with the title, as he felt there was something different the way Gill was playing the guitar on the record.
Gill hosted the CMA Awards every year from 1992 to 2003. In 2004 he received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. In 1997, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He married country singer Janis Oliver (of Sweethearts of the Rodeo fame) in 1980. The couple have one daughter, Jennifer Jerene Gill, born 5 May 1982. Vince and Janis separated in the mid-1990s and eventually divorced in June 1998. Vince later began dating and eventually married Christian/pop singer Amy Grant in March of 2000. They have one daughter, Corrina Grant Gill born 12 March 2001.
Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler was a fan of Gill's, and had asked Gill to join the band full time. Gill turned down the invitation but did sing backup on one song ("The Bug") from Dire Straits' album On Every Street.
Gill has also sung duets with numerous artists, including Dolly Parton ("I Will Always Love You"), Reba McEntire ("Oklahoma Swing," "The Heart Won't Lie," "It Just Has to Be That Way"), Amy Grant ("House of Love"), and Barbra Streisand ("If You Ever Leave Me"); his other credits as a backup vocalist have included "Girls With Guitars" by Wynonna Judd (written by Mary-Chapin Carpenter, who, coincidentally, had a country hit with her cover of "The Bug") and "Nothing Left Behind Us" by Richard Marx.
Liza Jane
Vince Gill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got my name
So why don't you call me
Little Liza Jane
You've got that body
You've got that frame
So why don't you call meLittle Liza Jane
Girl, I got it bad for you
There ain't nothin' I won't do
Just one kiss and I'll never be the same
Little Liza Jane, oh little Liza Jane
Now you've heard my story
You've got to know my name
So why don't you call me
Little Liza Jane
Girl, I got it bad for you
There ain't nothin' I won't do
Just one kiss and I'll never be the same
Little Liza Jane, oh little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane (ooh, little Liza Jane)
Little Liza Jane (ooh, little Liza Jane)
(Ooh, little Liza Jane, ooh, little Liza Jane)
In Vince Gill's song Liza Jane, the singer is completely smitten with a woman named Liza Jane. He is asking her why she hasn't called him despite having his number and knowing his name. The singer is in awe of Liza Jane's body and frame, and expresses that he is head-over-heels, desperately wanting to be with her. He says that all it would take is just one kiss for him to be changed forever. The repetition of the phrase "little Liza Jane" emphasizes the singer's adoration of the woman.
The song can be seen as a classic example of infatuation and unrequited love as the singer is pining for Liza Jane without any indication of her feelings towards him. The pleading tone of the lyrics, especially in the chorus conveys the desperation of the singer.
Overall, Vince Gill's Liza Jane is a sweet, yet sad love song about longing for someone who may not reciprocate those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got my number
I really like you and I want you to call me.
You've got my name
You know who I am, but I need you to recognize and acknowledge my feelings for you.
So why don't you call me
I am waiting for you to make the move and call me, I am not sure why you haven't yet.
Little Liza Jane
This is a playful nickname I have for you, and I want you to call me by a cute nickname too.
You've got that body
I am attracted to you physically, but my feelings run deeper than just lust.
You've got that frame
I admire your figure, but I am interested in getting to know you beyond your looks.
Girl, I got it bad for you
I have strong feelings for you and I can't stop thinking about you.
There ain't nothin' I won't do
I am willing to go above and beyond to show you how much I care for you.
Just one kiss and I'll never be the same
I want to share a special moment with you and deepen our connection.
Now you've heard my story
I have shared my feelings with you and I hope you understand where I am coming from.
You've got to know my name
I hope that by telling you my name, you will see me as someone worth getting to know.
Little Liza Jane (ooh, little Liza Jane)
This nickname reminds me of the happiness and joy that comes with being around you.
Little Liza Jane (ooh, little Liza Jane)
I can't help but say your name and feel happier for it.
(Ooh, little Liza Jane, ooh, little Liza Jane)
Your presence and attention means everything to me, and I want you to feel the same way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Vincent Grant Gill, Reed Nielsen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kathleengrimes8196
What can this man not do? From the most heartbreaking songs to the most upbeat - Little Liza Jane - No other way to describe him, Vince Gill is a God given talent!!!
@vincegill6707
Thanks for always supporting my music 🎶,I’m so grateful. And I hope you never stop being a fan.
@patrickmaguire7783
An absolute legend and a genius guitar player
@wowens1218
Back in 1985 Vince came to the Sunrise Beach Florida swap meet. There was a two story building there where every Sunday they featured a different band. One of the artists there was Vince Gill. I was 3rd row back, center stage. At the end of his 4th song he told the audience that there was a guy in the crowd that was singing word for word with him. That was me. The lady to my right shouted out " and he sings good too ". Vince asked her if I was good enough to come up on stage and she replied " oh most definitely". He asked me if I wanted to join him on stage. We did 3 songs together. At the end of the 3rd song Vince says " I gotta send him back to the audience or he'll steal my show today and I'll wind up doing nothing but play guitar ". Never will forget that day.
@fewhite5126
Great story.
@theresabrowning2916
Wow. How nice
@SupraRy
Pics or it didn't happen.
@SaundersE5
SupraRy don’t be a dick, believe.
@tjrox
Awesome, Vince sounds like a class act.
@malyndacornell
I'm here in April 2025.. fur sure!!😊😅