Hawkeye Reporter

North Iowa Area Community College recently issued the following announcement on September 15.

First Citizens Bank and North Iowa Broadcasting proudly present Larry, Steve, and Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the NIACC campus at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 1st, 2021. This presentation is part of the 2021-2022 Performing Arts and Leadership Series.

 Larry, Steve, and Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers are Grammy® Award-winners who have dazzled audiences for more than six decades. They have accrued a lifetime of noteworthy achievements in their storybook career, including a Grammy® for Best Country song (“Broken Lady”), three ACM awards for Single of the Year (“All The Gold In California”), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year, along with five nominations for CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Single, Album. The brothers have accumulated seven #1 singles, 32 Top 40 records, more than 20 studio albums and five BMI “Million-Air” Awards.

As a solo writer, Larry ranks 4th on Billboard’s Top 40 self-penned hits and was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His impressive song catalog has been recorded by a “Who’s Who” of entertainers, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson, the Oak Ridge Boys and many others – securing his legacy as one of BMI’s top solo songwriters. During 2020, The Gatlin Brothers celebrated their 65th anniversary in the music industry.

While building their career, The Gatlin Brothers were on the fast track musically in 1976, thanks to the chart-topping success of their single “Broken Lady.” But their career began much earlier in Abilene, Texas in 1955 when Larry was six, Steve was four, and Rudy was two. The brothers grew up singing gospel music, and the brothers would sing for anyone who would listen. Soon they were singing from coast to coast and appeared at the World’s Fair in 1964 in New York City. In 1971 Larry auditioned for The Imperials, Elvis’ backup group, and while he didn’t get the job, he met Dottie West who encouraged him and helped him get to Nashville.

Through Dottie’s friendship, Larry met Kris Kristofferson who championed his talents as a writer and singer. Kristofferson’s introduction to Fred Foster at Monument Records resulted in a recording contract with the label. Larry’s first album, The Pilgrim, was released later that year. Johnny Cash wrote the liner notes for the album and dubbed him “The Pilgrim” – a name Cash called him the rest of his life.

At the time, Steve and Rudy were still in college but by 1975 they had moved to Nashville to sing backup with Tammy Wynette. The two later joined Larry to form the group as we know it today.

The safety of our patrons, performers, and staff is our top priority. Due to high levels of transmission in Cerro Gordo County and surrounding areas and at the request of our artists, all guests (over the age of three), staff, and volunteers are required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. Other mitigation efforts may also be in effect. Please visit www.niacc.edu/pals or call the Box Office to stay apprised of our most recent policies.

To learn more about the show, visit www.gatlinbrothers.com or watch a video at www.niacc.edu/palvideos.

For tickets to the show, call the NIACC Box Office at 1-888-466-4222, extension 4188. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.niacc.edu/boxoffice.

The Broadway sponsor for the 2021-2022 Performing Arts and Leadership Series is Drs. Beck, Bhangoo, and Ondoma: Neurosurgery of North Iowa, P.C.

Platinum sponsors include Samuel & Patricia Congello, Mason City Clinic, Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund, Lee Foundation, Globe Gazette, MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, and Principal Financial Group.

Gold sponsors include First Citizens Bank, First State Bank of Belmond, The G. G. George Family, Henkel Construction Company, MBT Bank & The Hanson Family Foundation, Northwoods State Bank, North Iowa Eye Clinic P.C., Stratford Foundation, Sukup Manufacturing Co., Holiday Inn Express, KGLO, KIMT, KLKK-FM 103.7, and Country Inn & Suites.

North Iowa Area Community College, founded in 1918, is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa.  With approximately 3,000 career and transfer students, the College has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as a leading community college in the nation.  NIACC welcomes students from across Iowa, Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The College has served as a leader in student-centered learning, community engagement, and collaborative leadership for more than 100 years. Choose NIACC First.

Original source can be found here.