Seminole, Texas Most Famous Native Son, Mr. Larry Gatlin (With Steve & Rudy On Cover Of Country Music Mag 1982)

Larry First Started Singing With His Two Brothers, Rudy & Steve, At A Very Early Age (7).  Quoting From Billie, Their Mom Who Resides In Abilene, "They Could Sing Before They Could Talk"  They Appeared On The Slim Willet TV Shows Plus Their Own Shows On KRBC In Abilene.  They Sang As A Gospel Group In Churches And Gatherings Throughout West Texas.  In Later Years Larry Developed Into A Prolific Song Writer In Nashville And, With His Brothers, Recorded Over 40 C&W Hits.  Larry Also Wrote Songs Recorded By Elvis, Tom Jones, Dottie West, Glen Campbell, And Many Others.  Their Younger Sister, LaDonna, Was Born In Abilene, Texas And She Also Recorded Plus Was A Back-Up Singer Behind Tammy Wynette.  Larry's Early Music Influences Were Roy Orbison (See The Teen Kings...Pioneer Section) & Gospel Singer Jake Hess.  Larry Was Raised In Odessa Where He Led The Broncos Football Team To A District Championship (The 60's).  Steve & Rudy Graduated From Texas Tech & Larry University Of Houston.  Their Most Successful Year Was 1979 When They Won Numerous Major Music Awards.  In 1981 The Gatlin Brothers Had Their Own TV Special On ABC.  Their Biggest Hits Were: "All The Gold In California" & "Houston" Larry Was Inducted Into The Songwriter Hall Of Fame In Nashville.  In The Nineties Larry Was Residing In Austin And Houston Where He Was Still Performing.  Larry Won A Grammy In 1976 And In 1990 The Gatlins Were Inducted Into The West Texas Walk Of Fame In Lubbock (Surrounds The Buddy Holly Statue).  Larry, Steve, Rudy & LaDonna...One Of The Most Talented Families In Texas Music History.

In 1934 Leonard Sly, Bob Nolan & Tim Spencer Organized "The Pioneers"  Singing As A Trio Recording For Decca.  The "Sons Of The Pioneers"  Formed In 1936 And Consisted Of Leonard Sly, Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, And Brothers Hugh & Karl Farr.  Later In The Year Appeared In Their First Movie "Rhythm On The Range" Where Leonard Sly Caught The Eye Of A Movie Producer.  In 1937 Leonard And Tim Dropped Out Being Replaced By Lloyd Perryman And Pat Brady.  Leonard Then Changed His Name To Roy Rogers Becoming A Western Movie Star.  Tim Spencer Rejoined the Group.  From 1945 To 1948 "The Sons Of The Pioneers" Had 10 Songs On The Country Charts.  Their Biggest Hit "Cool Water" Was First Recorded In 1936 By "The Sons" And Then Re-Recorded In 1948 By "The Sons Of The Pioneers".  The Original Sons Of The Pioneers Were Elected To the Country Music Hall Of Fame In 1980.  Thomas Hubert Farr Was Born In Llano, Texas And Karl Marx Farr In Rochelle, Texas.  All Of The Original Members Are Deceased.