Meet the most sought-after man in music (Created March 27, 2013)

He is a consummate professional and the most sought-after vocalist in music. Period. From bluegrass and contemporary country to rock and pop, Gill's famous pipes can be heard in just about every genre of music stretching back more than four decades.

Consider this – by the time Gill was just a teen, he played banjo and guitar, then added bass, dobro, fiddle and mandolin to his resume. By high school, he had joined the bluegrass band Mountain Smoke, just the first of many outfits Gill would perform with. And finally, in 1982, he landed a solo deal with RCA and made the move to Nashville.

Though Gill enjoyed some success early on, it took nearly seven years and a label change to MCA to make the transition from star to superstar. It started with 1989's "When I Call Your Name," which won Gill his first Grammy. Then there was "Never Knew Lonely," "Liza Jane," "Look At Us" and "I Still Believe in You." Inside of a four-year stretch, everything Gill touched had turned to gold.

It's remarkable that Gill's career has never showed any serious decline. From "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" and "One More Last Chance" to "The Heart Won't Lie" (his smash duet with Reba McEntire) and "Tryin' to Get Over You," top hits and best-selling albums were par for the course for the soulful singer. His 1998 project, "The Key," was a return to what critics deemed 'hardcore country,' and proved to be his very first album to top the charts.

He has sold more than 22 albums to date, been honored by the Country Music Association with 18 CMA Awards, and earned more than 20 Grammys. And when Gill isn't doing his thing as a solo artist, he's been a guest vocalist for everyone from Carrie Underwood and Bonnie Tyler to Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry. In 2012 he joined the country swing group the Time Jumpers, and in 2013 is expected to release a series of new albums.

Is Gill going to slow down any time soon? If you've followed his career or combed this bio, you already know the answer. Unlikely.