Larry Gatlin

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Larry Gatlin

Larry Wayne Gatlin (born May 2, 1948 in Seminole , Texas ) is an American country musician and songwriter, who with his brothers Steve (born April 4, 1951 ) and Rudy (born August 20, 1952) as "Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers ”was successful in the 1980s.

Beginnings

Gatlin made his first public appearance at the age of six. Accompanied by his younger brothers Steve and Rudy, he took part in a talent competition. In their early years the three developed a close harmony style based on the Everly Brothers , with which they mainly performed gospel songs. For a while, they appeared on a local radio station program every Sunday.

After graduating from high school, Gatlin went on a scholarship to the University of Houston , where he joined the gospel group "The Imperials". In Las Vegas , where the Imperials performed as part of the Jimmy Dean Show, he met Dottie West and introduced her to some self-written songs. West recorded two of his songs and was henceforth his sponsor.

Career

Dottie West brought him to Nashville in the early 1970s and got him a job as a songwriter in their newly founded music publisher. He also worked as a backing singer in the backing band of Kris Kristofferson , for whom he also wrote some songs. In 1973, through Kristofferson's mediation, Gatlin received a record deal from the Monument label. To produce his first album, The Pilgrim , he brought his brothers to Nashville, who in the meantime had founded the group Young Country together with a sister . Some singles were released from the album, which could place in the middle of the country top 100.

His brothers also worked on the next album and the one after that. The single Broken Lady reached fifth place in 1976 and was awarded a Grammy for best country song of the year the following year. In the same year Gatlin first appeared in the Grand Ole Opry . His first number 1 hit came in 1978 with I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love .

In 1979 he switched to the Columbia label. From that moment on, the brothers referred to themselves as "Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers". The soloist with accompanying group had become a band. The first single, All The Gold In California , reached number one on the country charts and became Single of the Year for the Academy of Country Music . The 1980s became the Gatlins' most successful decade. However, by far not every song was able to make it into the top 20. The next number 1 hit, Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer To You) , did not hit until 1984. Subsequently, there was a career break when Larry Gatlin was fighting his alcohol and drug addiction in a rehab clinic. His brothers also managed to get rid of alcohol.

The comeback succeeded. In 1986 they had their next top 10 hit with She Used To Be Somebody's Baby . Since switching to the Columbia label, her music has increasingly oriented itself towards mainstream and pop. The sales figures proved them right. Still, their popularity began to wane by the end of the decade. A change to the Capitol label in 1989 could not stop the trend. In 1992 the Gatlins went on their official farewell tour (after a ten-year hiatus, they resumed their public appearances from 2003). They continued to record albums for smaller labels. Larry Gatlin took on a role in the 1993 Broadway musical Will Rogers Follies .

Discography

solo

  • 1973 - The Pilgrim (Monument)
  • 1974 - Rain-Rainbow (Monument)
  • 1976 - High Time (Monument)
  • 1976 - Larry Gatlin (With Family And Friends) (Monument)
  • 1977 - Love Is Just A Game (Monument)
  • 1978 - Oh! Brother
  • 1978 - Larry Gatlin's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Monument)

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers

  • 1979 - Straight Ahead (Columbia)
  • 1980 - Help Yourself (Columbia)
  • 1981 - Not Guilty (Columbia)
  • 1982 - Sure Feels Like Love (Columbia)
  • 1983 - A Gatlin Family Christmas (Columbia)
  • 1983 - Greatest Hits Vol. II (Columbia)
  • 1984 - Houston To Denver (Columbia)
  • 1985 - Smile (Columbia)
  • 1986 - Partners (Columbia)
  • 1988 - Alive And Well ... Livin 'In the Land Of Dreams (Columbia)
  • 1990 - Cookin 'Up A Storm (Capitol)
  • 1992 - Adios (Liberty)
  • 1993 - Moments To Remember (Branson)
  • 1997 - Christmas With The Gatlins (Intersound)
  • 1998 - In My Life (CEMA)

Remarks

  1. ↑ For the singles placed in the country charts see Whitburn, Joel: The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits. 7th revised and expanded edition, New York City, New York: Billboard Books, 2005, pp. 130f

literature

  • Erlewine, Michael u. a. (Ed.): All Music Guide to Country Music. The experts guide to the best recordings in country music . San Francisco, Cal .: Miller Freeman Books, 1997, pp. 168–170 (biography and annotated discography)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gatlin, Larry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gatlin, Larry Wayne (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country musician and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH May 2, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH Seminole , Texas