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The youngest of six children of the late Margaret and Lennox Gavan (1992 Inductee), Gail’s childhood and early teen years reverberated with the sounds of country music at the well-known Gavan’s Hotel in Quyon, Quebec, and her musical education also included Irish, logging and Ottawa Valley songs taught to her by her father. Gail absorbed those early influences and was soon asked to guest with bands like Howard Hayes & The Country Drifters, and Racoons on Ice. Her numerous accomplishments include placing 2nd in the Canadian Open Singing Contest in 1989 and, two years later, winning the CKBY Bud Country Talent Search at the Gatineau Clog, subsequently placing in the top 10 in Hamilton. Gail’s first CD/cassette, "For the Love of the Valley - Vol. I", sold 10,000 copies and she followed that with Volume II and "For The Love of the Valley Irish", both on CD.
Gail has opened for many Nashville stars like George Jones, Tom T. Hall, Merle Haggard and Charley Pride, and has performed at almost every fair in the Ottawa Valley. In 1993, she hosted "Gail Gavan and Friends" on CHRO Pembroke and co-produced and wrote the theme song for another TV show, "Fred’s Place", based on her uncle Fred’s hotel in Chapeau, Quebec, which aired nationally, winning an Independent Producer’s Award in Jasper, Alberta, and leading to four years as co-host of CBC’s "Cottage Country".
In 1994, she was voted Entertainer of the Year by the Ottawa Valley Music Association, and in 1998, she hosted and performed in Bosnia with the DND Canadian Peacekeeper Tour. This year, Gail sang the National Anthem in front of the Queen on Canada Day and, with the Ryan Brothers and Louis Schreyer, recently opened for Pam Tillis, Gene Watson and Lorrie Morgan, among others. In addition, she performs her live show, "Canada Coast to Coast" at venues like the Museum of Civilization and Hotel Lac Leamy.
Gail combines her passions for singing, song-writing and teaching French and music with her favourite past-time: hanging out with her son, Connor.
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