The Gatlin Brothers at the VPAC!

The Venice Institute for Performing Arts is pleased to present Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers at the Venice Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 10th at 7pm! Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers have been dazzling audiences for more than 60 years with their country music. They have won countless awards and performed at numerous concert halls and festivals, and have even performed at the White House on several occasions. The brothers have seen their music top the charts and touch the lives of fans of all ages. Known for hits like, “Broken Lady,”  “All the Gold in California,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You),”  “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “ I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love,” and “Statues Without Hearts,” this is going to be an unforgettable performance that you don’t want to miss!

Larry Gatlin is an American country and Southern gospel singer and songwriter. As part of a trio with his younger brothers Steve and Rudy, he achieved considerable success within the country music genre, performing on thirty-three Top 40 singles (combining his solo recordings and those with his brothers). As their fame grew, the band became known as “Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.”

Gatlin is known for his rich falsetto singing style and for the unique pop-inflected songs he wrote and recorded in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, country music trended heavily towards slick pop music arrangements in a style that came to be known as Countrypolitan.Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers came to prominence and enjoyed their greatest success during this period with hit singles that showcased the brothers’ three-part harmonies and Larry’s poetic lyrics.

In 1979, when Gatlin signed with Columbia Records, he decided to officially have his brothers billed on his singles and on his albums. That year, their name was officially “Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers”. In October, they released the album Straight Ahead. It spawned the classic single “All the Gold in California“, which became their biggest hit together, reaching No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs list. This was Gatlin’s second number one hit and led to his being awarded “Top Male Vocalist of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music. On June 6, 1980, Straight Ahead was certified gold.

The group’s next big hit came in early 1980, with “Take Me To Your Lovin’ Place”, which peaked at No. 5 in 1981; they followed up with “What Are We Doin’ Lonesome”, which peaked at No. 4. They continued their hit success, having top 10 and top 20 hits over the next few years. On January 19, 1985, the Gatlin Brothers sang “All the Gold in California” at the nationally-televised 50th Inaugural Gala, the day before the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan. The Gatlin Brothers were also one of the first country groups to have music videos, like 1984’s “The Lady Takes the Cowboy Everytime“. In 1989, the Gatlin Brothers sang National Anthem before game three of the 1989 World Series, played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.

The brothers continued to tour throughout the 80’s. After more than a decade of singing together, the Gatlin Brothers embarked on their “Adios Tour” in 1992 and released an album of the same title.  Upon completion of the tour, Larry would go on to Broadway to star in the hit musical, “The Will Rogers Follies,” as Steve built a theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC and Rudy starred in a production of “Oklahoma” in Branson, MO.  In early 2002, the brothers decided to tour on a limited basis, recorded a new a album, Pilgrimage, in 2008 and are still performing 40-50 dates a year.  In 2015 the Gatlin Brothers received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the great state of Texas.  This past year they were inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Ft Worth, Texas.

As the brothers begin their 61st year singing together, they are looking forward to the next adventure. “We have been very blessed and grateful for the many fans who have stayed with us over the years,” says Steve Gatlin.  “You have impacted our lives more than you can possibly imagine.” Beginning on February 3rd, 2018, the Gatlin Brothers are embarking on their latest tour, where they will be performing in nearly 50 theaters country-wide. Don’t miss them for their one-night-only show in Venice!

For more information, please visit www.veniceperformingartscenter.com, or call our box office at (941) 218-3779.

We hope to see you at the show!