TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Rudy Gatlin has been singing for nearly his entire life — and this weekend, he brings that legacy to East Texas for a benefit concert supporting the Texas Country and Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Gatlin, one-third of the Grammy-winning Gatlin Brothers, said his career started when he was a toddler.
“I’ve never known not how to sing,” Gatlin said. “We were two, four, and six. I was 2½.”
The Gatlin Brothers as kids.(Rudy Gatlin)From Abilene to the Billboard charts
Gatlin and his brothers — Larry and Steve — entered a talent competition in Abilene, winning first place in the juvenile division.
“We won first place in our division,” Gatlin said. “Of course, we like to kid about being the only ones in the two, four, and six division. But hey, a win’s a win!”
In 1975, the brothers scored a major breakthrough with “Broken Lady,” which climbed to the top of the Billboard country chart.
“It went from 8 on the Billboard chart to number 1,” Gatlin said. “They don’t typically jump 8 to 1. But it went from 8 to 1 for two weeks, and it was huge.”
Grammy wins, losses, and a signature song
“Broken Lady” earned the Gatlin Brothers a Grammy. Their follow-up hit, “All the Gold in California,” became their signature song — though it did not bring home the same hardware.
“We won the first one for Broken Lady, and then we lost the next nine in a row,” Gatlin said. “It hurt my feelings. No, wait a minute. No, it didn’t.”
70 years and still touring
The brothers launched their 70th anniversary tour last year. When asked if it feels like 70 years, Gatlin did not hesitate.
“Oh, every year, every mile,” he said.
Gatlin said he is looking forward to sharing the Carthage stage with younger performers at the gospel concert.
“I’ll get just as much a blessing from those kids singing their hearts out,” Gatlin said. “You know, it just gets me, and I hope it never not gets me.”
The Gatlin Brothers(The Gatlin Brothers)Concert details
The benefit concert is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Carthage Civic Center. Tickets are $25 at the door. A reception at the Texas Country and Gospel Music Hall of Fame will be held at 10 a.m. ahead of the performance.
The concert will also feature Dallas Holm, The Calvary Boys and The Inspirationals Quartet. The event will also include younger performers, including the Roberson Trio from Tenaha, the Hootens from Waskom and Luke Moody from Hemphill — the latest Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Ambassador.
Moody, 14, is a fiddle player who recently appeared on the Penny Gilley Show on RFD TV, according to Tommie Ritter Smith, executive director of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
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