Larry Gatlin

  • Seminole, TX
    hometown
  • Country
    genre
  • 1973
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Larry Gatlin


Larry Gatlin is best-known for his '80s hits with the Gatlin Brothers, but prior to forming and leading that family trio, he enjoyed a successful solo career with occasional support from his brothers. Gatlin was born in Seminole, TX, in 1948 and raised on country gospel music. He and his brothers, Steve and Rudy, often sang together in church, as well as on local radio and television every once in a while; they also recorded an album for the small gospel label Sword & Shield. After high school, Gatlin enrolled at the University of Houston, where he joined a gospel group called the Imperials. The Imperials went on to perform in Jimmy Dean's Las Vegas revue, where Gatlin met Dottie West. Impressed by his songwriting, West recorded two of his compositions, "You're the Other Half of Me" and "Once You Were Mine"; not only that, she passed his demo tape around Nashville, and even paid for him to relocate there. Gatlin quickly found work as a backup singer for Kris Kristofferson, and not long after, he landed a solo deal with Monument in 1973.

Gatlin issued his debut album, The Pilgrim, later that year, and it produced his first charting country single, "Sweet Becky Walker," which inched into the Top 40. 1974's "Delta Dirt" was his first Top 20 hit, taken from the album Rain Rainbow. Gatlin's brothers first made their presence felt on his third album, 1976's Larry Gatlin with Family & Friends, which gave him his first Top Five hit in "Broken Lady." Sometimes accompanied by his brothers, Gatlin scored three more Top Five singles in 1977 ("I Don't Wanna Cry," "Love Is Just a Game," and "Statues Without Hearts"), and in 1978 scored his first number one, "I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love." When Gatlin left Monument for Columbia in 1979, he started crediting the Gatlin Brothers Band on all of his recordings, starting with that year's number one smash "All the Gold in California." Although the group's subsequent releases had several variations on the Gatlin Brothers name, and often billed Larry out front, it was all essentially Gatlin Brothers music from then on.

The Gatlin Brothers' success continued for much of the '80s, bringing them nine more Top Ten hits and another number one with 1983's "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)." Their last big hit came in 1987 with the Top Five "Talkin' to the Moon," but their brand of smooth country-pop was soon eclipsed by the new traditionalist movement. After a commercial decline of several years, the group decided to retire in 1991 and embarked on a successful farewell tour. Larry starred in the Broadway production of The Will Rogers Follies, and in 1993 the group opened their own theater in Branson, MO. In 1998, Gatlin released the solo gospel album In My Life, as well as a book, the memoir All the Gold in California. The group continued to play shows at their Myrtle Beach, NC theater, and 2004 saw the release of Live at Billy Bob's Texas, with Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Sing Their Family Gospel Favorites appearing from Dualtone Records in 2004. The inspired and ambitious The Pilgrimage was released in 2009 by Curb Records. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

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Music

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  • Johnny Cash Is Dead and His House Burned Down
    larry-gatlin
    Video
    Johnny Cash Is Dead and His House Burned Down
  • From Time To Time (It Feels Like Love Again)
    larry-gatlin
    Video
    From Time To Time (It Feels Like Love Again)
  • Talkin' To The Moon
    larry-gatlin
    Video
    Talkin' To The Moon
  • Runaway Go Home
    larry-gatlin
    Video
    Runaway Go Home
  • 1553
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    • Walk With Me
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/5/4/9/3/133439456.mp3
    • Sure Feels Like Love
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/0/5/7/3/107837507.mp3
    • Swing Down Chariot
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/1/3/1/9/107691317.mp3
    • Night Time Magic
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/2/1/2/7/107672126.mp3
    • Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer To You)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/2/5/2/6/107662528.mp3
    • Broken Lady
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/9/7/0/4/107840797.mp3

Photos

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  • Keith Urban (left), Martina McBride and Larry Gatlin backstage at the 2010 ACM Honors in Nashville on Sept. 20, 2010
    Larry Gatlin
    Keith Urban (left), Martina McBride and Larry Gatlin backstage at the 2010 ACM Honors in Nashville on Sept. 20, 2010
    Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 23 Sunday
    Lancaster, PA, US American Music Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 2 Friday
    Columbus, OH, US Celeste Center
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Discography

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  • Pilgrimage (2009)
    Larry Gatlin
    Pilgrimage (2009)
    Curb
  • Love Is Just a Game [2006] (2006)
    Larry Gatlin
    Love Is Just a Game [2006] (2006)
    CBUJ Distribution
  • Sing Their Family Gospel Favorites (2004)
    Larry Gatlin
    Sing Their Family Gospel Favorites (2004)
    Dualtone Music
  • Live at Billy Bob's Texas (2004)
    Larry Gatlin
    Live at Billy Bob's Texas (2004)
    Smith Music Group
  • Your Ticket to Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers (2003)
    Larry Gatlin
    Your Ticket to Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers (2003)
    Compendia Music Group
  • In My Life (1998)
    Larry Gatlin
    In My Life (1998)
    Spring House Music Group (Chordant)
  • Moments to Remember (1993)
    Larry Gatlin
    Moments to Remember (1993)
    Intersound
  • Adios (1991)
    Larry Gatlin
    Adios (1991)
    Liberty
  • Live at 8:00 P.M. (1990)
    Larry Gatlin
    Live at 8:00 P.M. (1990)
    Liberty
  • Cookin' Up a Storm (1990)
    Larry Gatlin
    Cookin' Up a Storm (1990)
    Liberty
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