March 11, 2015
For Immediate Release

 

By Josh Christian, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Imagine walking into a church building to find three brothers, between the ages of 2 and 6 years old, on stage. All is quiet except for the three voices singing a church hymn.

These are the beginnings of Southern Gospel legends, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, who are to perform at Campbellsville University's Ransdell Chapel Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville.

All tickets are general admission for their 60th Anniversary Tour concert. Tickets are $35. The concert will begin following the Derby Rose Gala, and a meet and greet will be after the concert for an additional $25. The meet and greet, in the back of the chapel, includes a photograph taken with the band.

The Gatlin Brothers are a Grammy winning trio with humble beginnings from Abilene, Texas. It all began in 1955 when Larry was 6, Steve was 4 and Rudy was 2. Later, they would appear on Slim Willet Radio and various TV shows.

Their career launched when Larry landed a solo deal with Monument Records. Some of the group's hit songs include: “Sweet Becky Walker,” “Broken Lady” and “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love.”

Since those days, the road that the trio has plowed has taken them to concert stages all over the world, and has seen their records top the charts and touch the lives of fans from eight to 80 years old.

Larry says of their 60th Anniversary Tour, “We're not calling it a farewell or a final tour. We're calling it the 60th Anniversary Celebration. By no means are we retiring, but after this tour, we are going to slow down a little bit.”
In addition to the tour, the brothers will soon release a new gospel album on Curb Records, titled “Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers 60th Anniversary Celebration.”

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brother as young children.

Campbellsville University Board of Trustees Dr. Jay Conner and Buzz Cason are long-time friends of the Gatlin Brothers. Conner has known Steve Gatlin for about 24 years. Conner and Gatlin have attended the same church, Brentwood Baptist located in Brentwood, Tenn., as well as the same country club, Brentwood Baptist Country Club also located in Brentwood. Conner has also come to know Larry Gatlin through their wives' connection to a Bible study group.

Cason is connected to The Gatlin Brothers through the brothers recording at his studio. Cason, however, said Conner is closer to the brothers than he.

Discussions about the musicians performing at CU began between Conner and Steve Gatlin after Steve performed at their church in 2014.

The Derby Rose Gala, a scholarship fundraising dinner, will occur on the same night. The gala begins at six p.m. and cost is $100 each for the gala, plus $35 for the concert ticket. All proceeds from both events go to CU's Scholarship Fund.

Tim Heilman, director of development at Campbellsville University, is the liaison between CU and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.