After high school, Larry went to the University of Houston on a football scholarship.  He majored in English and quickly developed “a love affair with the English language” that later served him well in his songwriting.  On the strength of his song writing talents and exceptional vocal ability, his life was changed by the legendary Dottie West who saw gold just under the unpolished surface of young Gatlin.  The early 70’s found Steve and Rudy in college while Larry, aided by West, moved to Nashville to write songs that would be recorded by names like Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Streisand, Tom Jones, and yes, Elvis Presley.

In 1972, Larry landed a solo deal with Monument Records through friend Kris Kristofferson and invited his siblings up to Nashville to sing backup on his first two albums—1974’s The Pilgrim and 1975’s Rain Rainbow.  The release of The Pilgrim landed Gatlin his first hit with “Sweet Becky Walker,” and then found himself at  #1 on the charts the next year with “Broken Lady,” a song that captured him a Grammy in 76′.  The same year all three brothers were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. 1977’s High Time, credited to “Larry Gatlin with Brothers and Friends,” featured the No.1 hit “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love.”  The success of this album encouraged the brothers to become an official trio and in 1979, they signed a group deal with Columbia records.  When demand from hit records sent them on the road, The Gatlin Brothers proved more than capable of fulfilling the musical call on their lives.  In concert, their performances were simply magical events, filled with incredible family harmonies, total professionalism, and downright fun for both the trio and their audiences.  Over the next decade the Brothers scored more than a dozen Top 40 hits, including “Denver,” “Houston (Mean That I’m One Day Closer To You),” Midnight Choir (Mogen David),” and “She Used To Be Somebody’s Baby,” “I Don’t Want To Cry,” “Statues Without Hearts,” “What Are We Doing Lonesome,” I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” “Take Me To Your Lovin’ Place,” “Night Time Magic,” “Love Is Just A Game,” “The Lady Takes The Cowboy Every Time,” and Talkin’ To The Moon.”  It was also in 79′ that Larry Gatlin won the ACM’s “Top Male Vocalist,” Straight Ahead won “Album of the Year,” and “All The Gold In California” won “Single of the Year.”