Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers in concert at the PAC
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Country music legends Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will perform in concert at the Kent State University at Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert tickets range in price from $27 to $42 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at www.kent.edu/tusc/pac or by calling 330-308-6400. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Free parking is available for all shows.
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers have been dazzling audiences for 60 years. It all began in 1955 when Larry was six, Steve was four and Rudy was two. Since those days, the road that the trio has plowed has taken them to concert stages all over the world, and has seen their records top the charts and touch the lives of fans from eight to 80.
After performing together as children, Larry went off to college where he studied law at the University of Houston. In 1971, he auditioned for the legendary Imperials, Elvis’ backup group. He didn’t get the job, but he met Dottie West, who was the opening act for the legendary Jimmy Dean, who would become one of Larry’s oldest and best friends. Dottie was initially taken with Larry’s resemblance to Nashville songwriter Mickey Newbury. Dottie told him one night in her backstage dressing room at the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas, “Larry, you look so much like Mickey Newbury, you’ve just got to be able to write great songs.” After the gig in Vegas, Larry went home to Houston, wrote eight songs, sent them to Dottie, and she sent him a plane ticket to Nashville.
Through Dottie, Larry met Kris Kristofferson, who became a champion of Gatlin’s talent as a writer and singer. Kristofferson introduced Larry to Fred Foster at Monument Records which resulted in a contract with the record label. His first album, “The Pilgrim”, was released later that year. Johnny Cash wrote the liner notes for his first album, and dubbed him “The Pilgrim,” which is what he called Larry until the day he died.
Steve and Rudy moved to Nashville in 1975 and teamed up with Larry to form Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. By 1976, the Gatlin Brothers were in the fast lane, thanks to the chart-topping success of the Grammy-winning “Broken Lady.” That same year, the trio was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The hits continued throughout the rest of the decade, with seven more number one songs: “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love,” “Statues Without Hearts,” “Love Is Just A Game,” “All The Gold in California,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You)” and “Night Time Magic.” The brothers were nominated for awards by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and the Music City News Awards, among others. “We won some of ’em too,” said Larry.
In November 2015, the brothers released a new Gospel album on Curb Records titled, “The Gospel According to Gatlin”. Some of the new songs are a little edgy, a little bit different.
And speaking of edgy, Larry said, “Steve and Rudy and I didn’t get where we are by playing it safe. We have always pushed the envelope, we have always crossed borders others were afraid to cross and we’re not going to stop now… and that is the Gospel According to Gatlin.”
Category: Arts & Entertainment
