Larry Gatlin

Induction Year: 2019

Birth Name: Larry Wayne Gatlin

Birth Date: 05-02-1948

Place of Birth: Seminole, Texas

Larry Wayne Gatlin began his musical career at age 7 singing Gospel music in West Texas with his younger siblings.

After college, Larry joined the Imperials and was performing with them in Las Vegas when he was discovered by Dottie West. Once she heard his songs, she sent him a plane ticket to Nashville and signed him to her publishing company.

His early songs were recorded by her, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Presley (“Help Me”) and Johnny Rodriguez (“I Just Can’t Get Her Out Of My Mind”).

As an artist, Larry had 28 self-penned hits reach the Top 20 between 1975 and 1990. The vast amount of Larry’s catalog is solo-written. Among his signature songs are “All The Gold In California,” “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” “Statues Without Hearts,” “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love,” “Night Time Magic,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You),” “The Lady Takes The Cowboy Every Time” and “Broken Lady” (1976 Grammy for Best Country Song).

Larry starred on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies in 1993. In recent years, his Gospel songs have been recorded by many artists.

Larry was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

"All The Gold In California"

1979 ACM Single of the Year

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1979 #1 country
Johnny Mathis1992 
 

"Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall"

Dottie West1973 
Larry Gatlin1974 #45 country
Elvis Presley1976 
Gene Watson1976 
Anne Murray1981 

"Broken Lady"

1976 Grammy for Best Country Song

Larry Gatlin1976 #5 country
Dottie West1978 
Billie Jo Spears1981 
Gary Morris2007 
 

"Denver"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1984 #7 country
 

"Help Me"

Johnny Cash1972 
Kris Kristofferson1972 
Ray Price1973 
Connie Smith1974 
Elvis Presley1974 #6 country
Larry Gatlin1974 
Roy Clark2005 
Russ Taff2011 

"Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You)"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1983 #1 country
Aaron Watson2010 
 

"I Don’t Wanna Cry"

Larry Gatlin1977 #3 country
 

"I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind"

Johnny Rodriguez1975 #1 country
Mickey Gilley1976 
 

"I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love"

Larry Gatlin1978 #1 country

"I've Done Enough Dyin' Today"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1979 #7 country
Judy Collins1980 
Jamie O'Neal2014 
 

"If Practice Makes Perfect"

Johnny Rodriguez1977 #5 country
Larry Gatlin1977 
 

"Love Is Just A Game"

Larry Gatlin1977 #3 country
 

"Love Of A Lifetime"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1988 #4 country
The Cox Family1996 
 

"Night Time Magic"

Larry Gatlin1978 #2 country, #50 adult contemporary

"She Used To Be Somebody's Baby"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1986 #2 country
 

"Statues Without Hearts"

Larry Gatlin1977 #5 country
 

"Sure Feels Like Love"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1982 #5 country
 

"Take Me To Your Loving Place"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1980 #5 country
 

"Talkin' To The Moon"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1987 #4 country
 

"The Lady Takes The Cowboy Every Time"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1984 #3 country
 

"What Are We Doin’ Lonesome"

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers1981 #4 country

Larry Gatlin

Induction Year: 2019