Vince Gill … punk-pop rocker?

Dire Straits, the punk-pop MTV-era band with megahits “Sultans Of Swing,” “Walk Of Life” and “Money for Nothing,” once actively pursued the fledgling bluegrass performer from Oklahoma, Vince Gill, to join their band.

“They were pretty much at their height at the time and it seemed like an amazing opportunity,” Vince said as I spoke with him backstage at The Arcada Theatre. “But something inside me said there is something else out there for you. I just followed my gut feelings and stayed on the country music path, and I guess it worked out.”

Well, I would say so! Twenty Grammy awards, dozens and dozens of albums and countless accolades later, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Vince Gill has risen to be one of Nashville's elite. But I have to tell you, after 30-plus years of working with celebrities, rarely have I come across a more humble and generous entertainer, especially one of his stature.

As I walked and talked with him on Main Street in St. Charles before the show, he stopped to say hi and take pictures with everyone who asked. He actually welcomed it, and boy, were the fans happy! This guy is a true gentleman.

“I am still just a small-town Okie,” Gill said. “Being nice to people is the way of life I was brought up on, and I just never forgot it. I don't live with fences around my house or security guards following me around. I really love talking to people.”

Vince recently played to a packed house at The Arcada with his “side gig” band, The Time Jumpers. Dubbed “The most Nashville thing in Nashville,” this Texas-swing playin' group is definitely one of the finest collections of musicians ever to grace a wood planked stage.

The 11-piece band, with Gill doing much of the vocals, includes an upright bass, steel guitar, fiddle and an accordion!

“I am lucky to be joined onstage with some of the best session musicians in Nashville,” Gill said. “We just started playing together for fun, and now, we play religiously every Monday night in Nashville.”

The solid two-hour performance was as tight as tight can be with the audience just soaking in every note.

Vince's humble bluegrass beginnings led him to become a member of the country/folk/pop band The Pure Prairie League. The band's biggest hit was “Let Me Love You Tonight,” and it garnered Gill some much deserved notoriety. He decided to go solo, writing and recording songs for, and touring with, some of the biggest names in country show biz.

With his subsequent marriage to Christian Pop queen Amy Grant, his life seemed to be complete. I asked him, with all this talent in the family, is every statement a song, every family party a family jam?

“Not really. The kids are pretty much musically inclined but we really don't do The Partridge Family thing. In fact, my daughter is learning to play guitar on her own, even though I would teach her!”

So from bluegrass to punk-pop, folk pop to country, and Christian pop to Texas swing, Vince Gill really knows how to “mix it up” musically. He is one of those guys you can meet and instantly feel like you have known him for years.

I did joke with him backstage saying that a 21st Grammy would probably go to his head and make him “unapproachable.” After a good laugh from the rest of the band, he just shook his head and humbly smiled.

“But then I'll need security people; are you interested in a job?” he asked.

Looks like comedy is the next mountain he will climb.

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of The Onesti Entertainment Corp. and The Historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com.