NOMINATIONS

Nominated for CCMA Album Of The Year,
"Famous First Words"

Canadian Country Music Week has had its success stories, and Gil Grand is one of them.

The Sudbury native met veteran Nashvegas songwriter Byron Hill a few years back in Calgary, this led to that, and suddenly Gil Grand was a charter member of Sony's revitalized Monument label with another act that made a small splash last year: The Dixie Chicks.

The reviews for "Famous First Words" and Gil's striking traditionally-flavored baritone contained so many superlatives that many were appraising him as the next George Starit.

Which is fine by Gil by George, since Mr. Grand learned his licks from both Strait and Jones, as well as the legendary Conway Twity.

Well, that's not nearly true. His extended family had a lot to do with it. His Dad, one of 21 - count 'em, 21 - children, used to invite the relatives over for Christmas jam sessions.

By age 13 Gil was versed enogh in guitar to write his own material, and a year later he was scraping around the Nickel Capital Of The World for Dimes, quarters and bucks (hadn't invented loonies yet).

A serial hockey player who passed up on pro sports due to a greater love for country Music, Gil Grand's effortlessly magical melodies and clever turns of phrase are stamped all over "Famous First Words".

Three of his own songs - "Let's Start Livin'," "I Can't Put Your Memory To Bed," and "I Already Fell," have been heating up radio request lines from Charlottetown to Quesnel in 1999 alone.

And while he may not be delivering bodychecks and figuring out ways to solve Dominick Hasek, grit and determination are important keys to his success.

To paraphrase a Gil Grand song, "Love Me Or Not (Here I Come)."


1999 CCMA Awards Program, Artist Profiles