(bright music) - My next guest, Larry Gatlin, is here tonight.

(audience applauding) Larry was recently nominated by the Country Music Association as the Male Vocalist of the Year, and he's gonna be seen this December on NBC in a show called "A Country Christmas Carol."

His new album is called "Larry Gatlin Straight Ahead."

And here's Larry & the Gatlin Brothers Band.

(audience applauding) Larry.

♪ All the gold ♪ ♪ In California ♪ ♪ Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills ♪ ♪ In somebody else's name ♪ ♪ So if you're dreamin' ♪ ♪ About California ♪ ♪ It don't matter at all where you've played before ♪ ♪ California's a brand-new game ♪ ♪ Trying to be a hero ♪ ♪ Winding up a zero ♪ ♪ Can scar a man forever ♪ ♪ Right down to your soul ♪ ♪ Living on the spotlight ♪ ♪ Can kill a man outright ♪ ♪ 'Cause everything that glitters ♪ ♪ Is not gold ♪ ♪ And all the gold ♪ ♪ In California ♪ ♪ Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills ♪ ♪ In somebody else's name ♪ ♪ So if you're dreamin' ♪ ♪ About California ♪ ♪ It don't matter at all where you've played before ♪ ♪ California's a brand-new game ♪ ♪ All the gold ♪ ♪ In California ♪ ♪ Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills ♪ ♪ In somebody else's name ♪ ♪ So if you're dreamin' ♪ ♪ About California ♪ ♪ It don't matter at all where you've played before ♪ ♪ California's a brand-new game ♪ ♪ Brand-new game ♪ ♪ A brand-new game ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) - Thank you.

You may be seated.

Oh, gracious.

Now we'll get this thing kicked off.

Again, I'm honored that you have come to see us tonight.

♪ I made a lot of money ♪ ♪ In the key of G ♪ ♪ The key of G's been good to me and my family ♪ ♪ The old time pickers in Nashville ♪ ♪ They swear that G is the people's key ♪ ♪ I've made a lot of money in the key of G ♪ Y'all are quick.

♪ And I've lost a lot of Grammys ♪ ♪ In the key G ♪ ♪ Don't any of y'all feel sorry for me ♪ ♪ After all, none of y'all ♪ ♪ Ever lost a Grammy ♪ That's just not right.

I just... (audience laughing) That's just not.

I had to pick on you a little bit.

If it hadn't been for y'all, we wouldn't have lost.

♪ But I've lost a lot of Grammys in the key of G. ♪ ♪ And I've made a lot of money in the key of G ♪ ♪ And I made all that money thanks to y'all ♪ ♪ And big G. ♪ ♪ Songs like "Houston" ♪ ♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ Sing it with me if you know it.

Come on.

♪ Yeah, Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means the last day of the tour and we're through ♪ ♪ Yeah, honey, you and ♪ ♪ God in heaven above ♪ ♪ Know I love what I do for living, I really do ♪ ♪ But Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Well now, singing at the world's biggest rodeo ♪ ♪ Sure was a great time for me and the guys ♪ ♪ Ah, but when I'm away from you, honey ♪ ♪ Time always never flies ♪ ♪ Sleeping all alone in that Holiday hotel ♪ ♪ Sure makes a cowboy blue ♪ ♪ But here I am in Houston and I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah, Houston ♪ Come on.

♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah, honey, Houston ♪ - Houston means the last day of the tour and we're through ♪ Yeah, honey, you and ♪ ♪ God in heaven above ♪ ♪ Know I love what I do for a living, I really do ♪ ♪ But Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah, Houston ♪ Come on now.

♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah, Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means the last day of the tour and we're through ♪ ♪ Yeah, you and ♪ ♪ God in heaven above ♪ ♪ Know I love what I do for living, I really do ♪ ♪ But Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah, Houston ♪ ♪ Houston means that I'm one day closer to you ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (audience applauding) Oh, yeah.

♪ I don't wanna cry ♪ ♪ This early ♪ ♪ This morning ♪ Now these are big hits, people.

You can clap if you want to.

♪ But cry I will if you go through ♪ ♪ With leaving me alone ♪ ♪ I don't wanna cry ♪ ♪ This early this morning ♪ ♪ So lay back down and love me ♪ ♪ And leave the leavin' till later on ♪ ♪ I don't wanna think ♪ ♪ About tomorrow ♪ ♪ Lord knows I got my hands full ♪ ♪ Just worryin' about today ♪ ♪ And if it's true ♪ ♪ That God sees every sparrow when it falls ♪ ♪ Lord, I hope you see me fallin' ♪ ♪ If you up and walk away ♪ Anybody know this?

♪ 'Cause I don't wanna cry ♪ ♪ This early this morning ♪ Good.

♪ But cry I will ♪ ♪ If you go through with leaving me alone ♪ ♪ I don't wanna cry ♪ ♪ This early this morning ♪ ♪ So lay back down and love me ♪ ♪ And leave the leavin' till later on ♪ ♪ So lay back down and love me ♪ ♪ And leave the leavin' till later on ♪ Anybody gonna do the high note?

♪ I don't wanna cry ♪ ♪ I think I better do that one ♪ Yeah!

(audience applauding) Oh, Lord.

Say, y'all did good.

That's the number one record we lost the Grammy for in the key of G. Here's another one.

♪ Love is just a game ♪ ♪ That everybody plays ♪ ♪ When the game's over ♪ ♪ Not everybody pay ♪ ♪ Some play the game and lose ♪ ♪ Some play the game and win ♪ ♪ The winners walk out laughing ♪ ♪ The losers cry ♪ ♪ Deal again ♪ That's just a little part of that one you know?

So that's, and how about ♪ Night time ♪ ♪ Magic woman ♪ ♪ Got a hold ♪ ♪ A hold on me ♪ ♪ Night and day ♪ ♪ I pray that your magic won't let me be ♪ ♪ I'm a prisoner of love ♪ ♪ And I never wanna be set free ♪ ♪ Lord, I never wanna be set free ♪ ♪ Night time ♪ ♪ Magic woman ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (audience applauding) So that's that one.

And let's see, I... ♪ I did not mean to mislead you ♪ ♪ I never intended that push come to shove ♪ Y'all know this one too?

We'll start over ♪ I don't, I don't, I don't ♪ ♪ Have one thing against you ♪ ♪ I just wish you were someone I love ♪ ♪ I thought I had fallen forever in love ♪ ♪ The minute your red gingham dress hit the floor ♪ ♪ Oh, but after I'd taken of all of you favors ♪ ♪ The hungry inside of me cried out, there's more ♪ ♪ So don't misunderstand me, it's not that you're lacking ♪ ♪ The fact is your beauty's what dreams are made of ♪ ♪ I do not have one thing against you, sweet lady ♪ ♪ I just wish you were someone I love ♪ Here we go.

Three, three.

♪ I did, I did, I did ♪ ♪ Not mean to mislead you ♪ ♪ I never intended that push come to shove ♪ We're gonna go in reverse order this time.

♪ I don't, I don't, I don't ♪ ♪ Have one thing against you ♪ ♪ I just wish you someone I love ♪ Now folks, look here.

My number one objective up here tonight is to sing a good, clean, wholesome family show.

I don't sing dirty songs.

I don't write dirty songs.

This one's close.

(audience laughing) Part about the red gingham dress hitting the floor.

Get past that, boys and girls, you're home free.

♪ I don't ♪ ♪ Have one thing against you ♪ ♪ I just wish you were someone I love ♪ That's it.

That's as bad as it gets.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

Thank you.

Could I, could I have a little bit more guitar, please, in my monitor up here, 'cause I am playing good.

Look here, like I say, like I say, I don't wanna, you know, not embarrass anybody or offend any.

Of course in this world that we live in today, you can say howdy, and somebody will sue you or hit you or something.

You know, it's easy to offend.

And one night in Vega-, in Branson, which is not Vegas, Branson, one time we were there and we did a great show.

The people loved us.

They were like y'all.

They were clapping along and singing the song, having a wonderful time.

And you know, and they gave us a standing ovation after the show.

Now, y'all don't have to do that.

It's all right.

(audience laughing) So anyway, we got this letter backstage.

"Dear Gatlin Brothers, I loved your show.

It was wonderful.

You sang some beautiful songs and some gorgeous harmony.

Absolutely loved the show, all the way up to that song about the red gingham dress hitting the floor."

She went on to explain.

"I am a Baptist.

We do not appreciate lyrics like that in songs, so that is when I left your show."

She signed her name.

Then she put, "P.S., Anyway, I had to get home early so I could watch 'Sex and the City.'"

(audience laughing) We got any Baptists out there tonight?

(audience member cheering) I'm in Texas.

Do we have any Baptists?

There you go.

Leave the lights up so I can see these people.

I like this.

Some Baptists.

All right, how about Methodists?

We have Methodists.

Raise your, those are just Baptists who are afraid of water.

It's the same bunch.

Same bunch.

How about any Church of Christ people?

(audience members cheering) We'll do a little a capella for y'all after a while.

Dear God, you'll go to hell if you play the piano in church.

How about bead rattlers?

We got any Catholics out there?

How about old Pentecostal holy rollers like me?

(audience member cheering) Yes, you have been wanting to raise your hands all day anyway, praise God.

I'm glad you're here.

Don't care what religion you are.

I don't think God cares.

Really don't.

One of my very favorite philosophers, Lord Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, Scotland, he once wrote, he said, "Were I able to write the ballads of a nation, I wouldn't care who wrote its laws.

He thought words, songs were pretty important.

Another old boy named George Frederick Root wrote a song one time.

He thought words and songs were important.

He wrote, ♪ Jesus loves the little children ♪ Come on.

♪ All the children of the world ♪ ♪ Red and yellow, black and white ♪ ♪ They are precious in his sight ♪ ♪ Jesus loves the little children of the world ♪ ♪ And so do the Gatlin Brothers ♪ ♪ Even Permian Panthers, some of them ♪ (audience laughing) Just a little.

Okay, that's all.

We're not gonna talk about religion.

One little bit of religious news.

One little bit of religion.

Brother Rudy has recently changed religions.

Yes.

He talked to me about it, it's been about a month ago.

And he told me, he said, "Big brother," he said, "I have figured out something."

He said, "There is a big difference," 'cause see, he was Baptist, or first he was Pentecostal.

You know, then he moved up to Baptist.

He said now he's all the way up to Presbyterian.

(audience laughing) Yeah.

And he told me that he had figured out there was a big difference between Baptists and Presbyterians.

I said, "What is that?"

He said, "Well, unlike the Baptists, the Presbyterians will at least say hello to you in the liquor store."

(audience laughing) Oh, Lord.

I am married to the most incredible human being I have ever known.

I met her at Nicky's down there 55 years ago.

We've been married 53 years.

She's the most incredible human.

And she is the luckiest broad in Tennessee, or in Texas tonight.

(audience applauding) Whoo!

That's my girl.

That's my girl.

People say, "How have you been married that long?"

I said, "She's either made out of asbestos or Teflon.

I'm not sure."

A long time ago we made a vow to each other.

We made a vow that we'd never go to sleep mad at each other.

We'd figure out a way to figure it out.

That's a good idea for a song.

Where's Keller?

Where's my girl Keller?

Write that down, Keller.

Gonna figure out a way to figure it out.

If she's out there.

So I wrote a song about it.

♪ Statues without hearts ♪ ♪ Stones with no feeling ♪ ♪ Playing out a part ♪ ♪ Never feeling what we say ♪ ♪ Statues without hearts ♪ ♪ Stones with no feeling ♪ ♪ That's what we'll become ♪ ♪ If we let love get away ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ ♪ It's easy to love me ♪ ♪ Well, it's easy for me to love you ♪ ♪ Oh, but sometimes love that's easily taken ♪ ♪ Is easily taken for granted too ♪ ♪ So I'm gonna love you and take care of you ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're my one and only one ♪ ♪ I'll do everything that's in my power ♪ ♪ To see that we never become ♪ ♪ Statues without hearts ♪ ♪ Stones with no feeling ♪ ♪ Playing out a part ♪ ♪ Never feeling what we say ♪ ♪ Statues without heart ♪ ♪ Stones with no feeling ♪ ♪ That's what we'll become ♪ ♪ If we let love get away ♪ ♪ Honey ♪ ♪ We ain't gonna let love get away ♪ (smacks lips) (audience applauding) This next song is my very favorite song I've ever written.

I love to sing it with Brother Steve and Brother Rudy, and I promise you, we're gonna come back here very soon, right here in this auditorium.

I love the old Ector Theatre, boy.

(audience applauding) ♪ Goldfinger ♪ That's what I saw right here, yes.

So this is my favorite song.

And it was not a big hit either.

We thought, we really thought that when we recorded it and released it, that it was gonna be the biggest hit record of our career.

And we recorded it, released it, and it started off slow and tapered off.

(audience laughing) I love to sing it.

♪ What will we do now ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ The hourglass is all out of sand ♪ ♪ How could love slip through our fingers ♪ ♪ And leave nothing ♪ ♪ But time on our hands ♪ ♪ And how will we live now ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ ♪ With parts of our hearts torn away ♪ ♪ Just existing makes dying look easy ♪ ♪ But maybe tomorrow ♪ ♪ I've done enough dyin' ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ And how will I sleep now ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ ♪ With only my arm by my side ♪ ♪ Perhaps I'll learn sleepin' all over ♪ ♪ And just maybe ♪ ♪ Without dreamin' this time ♪ ♪ And who'll make you laugh now ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ ♪ Since you've sent your clown on his way ♪ ♪ I don't think I'll cry ♪ ♪ Just die laughin' ♪ ♪ But maybe tomorrow ♪ ♪ I've done enough dyin' ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ And how will we live now ♪ ♪ You tell me ♪ ♪ With parts of our hearts ♪ ♪ Torn away ♪ ♪ Just existing makes dying ♪ ♪ Look awful easy ♪ ♪ But maybe tomorrow ♪ ♪ I've done enough dyin' ♪ ♪ Today ♪ (gentle guitar music) (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

That's my favorite.

We didn't get nominated for a Grammy.

Didn't win.

And this young man over here just reminded me I wrote, ♪ Sweet Becky Walker ♪ ♪ She's not much a talker ♪ ♪ But there's one thing she does mighty good ♪ And it was about, well it, I used her name, Becky Walker because Randy Walker was one of my best friends and Pops Walker was my Pony League coach.

But Becky was a lot younger than I was.

And it never was, I had to call him and say, "Pops, it's not, it's just a song, it was not about," but I'm gonna tell you what, she went to Texas Tech, and Becky Walker was the hot rock on the block up there at Texas Tech for a while.

That's what I'm gonna tell you.

♪ We lost a lot of Grammys in the key of G ♪ But we won this one.

♪ She's a broken lady ♪ ♪ Waiting to be mended ♪ ♪ Like a potter would mend ♪ ♪ A broken vase ♪ ♪ Broken lady ♪ ♪ Waiting to be mended ♪ ♪ And have what's left ♪ ♪ Of the pieces put back in place ♪ ♪ Her love's like a fortress ♪ ♪ Around a man she would've died for ♪ ♪ Taking care to take care of all he needed ♪ ♪ But the lady's fortress slowly turned into a prison ♪ ♪ And the warning signs he gave ♪ ♪ She never heeded ♪ ♪ She vowed every morning that what God joined together ♪ ♪ No one else in the world could pull apart ♪ ♪ Then the walls came tumbling to the ground ♪ ♪ Then her world came crashing down ♪ ♪ Around her heart ♪ ♪ Her heart ♪ ♪ Now she's a broke ♪ Sing with me.

♪ Broken lady ♪ ♪ Waiting to be mended ♪ ♪ Like a potter would mend ♪ ♪ A broken vase ♪ Shh.

Guitar part.

(gentle guitar music) Come back in.

♪ Broken lady ♪ ♪ Waiting to be mended ♪ ♪ And have what's left ♪ ♪ Of the pieces put back in place ♪ Here's the a capella part for you Church of Christ here.

♪ She's a broken lady ♪ ♪ Waiting to be mended ♪ ♪ And have what's left ♪ ♪ Of the pieces put back in place ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

That was wonderful.

That was wonderful.

You know, we've let people, that was our first big number one record.

First time we were ever nominated for the Grammy.

We won the first time, and then lost the next nine years in a row.

I voted for us every time.

(audience laughing) But we let people sing that one too, and let me tell you something, right here, I'm not lying, right here, Odessa, my hometown, the very best that any audience has ever sung "Broken Lady."

(audience laughing) Don't turn on me, lady.

I'm trying to- (audience laughing) That's a lie.

(audience laughing) There was one other time.

We were, where were we?

Oh, we were in Utah, in Salt Lake City, downtown at that big church.

Everybody's dressed alike, behind like ♪ Broken lady ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ (audience applauding) So give yourselves a hand, you're second to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

(audience applauding) Speaking of Utah, I was in New Mexico one night.

(audience laughing) How many of you good folks remember my dear friend, the late, great Roger Miller?

I know you remember Roger.

(audience applauding) If we have young people in here who don't know Roger Miller, go google it.

Roger Miller was not only one of the great songwriters, song craftsmen, a true wordsmith.

He was the funniest human being I have ever known.

Roger just looked at the world kind of sideways, you know?

And he used to call me Lorenzo.

And one night we were somewhere at a show and he walked up, he said, "Lorenzo."

I said, "What?"

He said, "Did you ever notice how much weight a chicken can gain and never show it in the face?"

(audience laughing) I said, "Yeah, Rog, I've been thinking about that a lot here lately."

And he had this other crazy game he'd play with me.

When I'd see him, see, and he'd already moved to L.A. by the time I got to Nashville, and we wouldn't see each other for a while.

Maybe it'd be six months or whatever.

But he'd just walk up, and whatever was on top of his head, he would just make up the first line of a song.

And Keller, this is how, you know, have 'em google Roger Miller.

And so one night we were somewhere, I don't remember where it is, he walked up, he had a guitar and he walked up.

Didn't say, hello, how are you?

He just went, ♪ Don't fall in love with anyone from Cleveland ♪ ♪ If they've been known to have strong family ties ♪ (guitar twanging) There.

And he just looked at me and I said, ♪ If the doctor says you got a week to live ♪ ♪ Go live in Cleveland ♪ ♪ It'll seem like a year before you die ♪ (audience laughing) You know it's true, Roger Miller.

So speaking of Utah, I was in New Mexico one night at Roger's house, we were in the den.

And we'd been in there a couple hours, and we were probably having some adult beverages.

It was like '82 or '83.

And we'd been in there a couple hours, and he left for a few minutes.

And what I'm telling you now is absolutely true.

Texans can put a little hair on a story if we have to, but this is just true.

He left the room and he went into his bedroom.

When he came out, he was carrying a little shoebox.

Now, I know that doesn't sound that fascinating until you realize what was in that shoebox.

It had old scraps of paper and menus and bar napkins and matchbooks and stuff and had song ideas written on 'em.

Janis will tell you, I've got Hefty bags full of just, you know, scraps of paper.

And so he opened up that shoebox.

So he looks in there and he takes out a little scrap of paper and he goes, ♪ Trailers for sale or rent ♪ ♪ Room to let, 50 cent ♪ ♪ No phone, no pool, no pet ♪ ♪ I ain't got no cigarettes ♪ ♪ Ah, but two hours of pushing brooms ♪ ♪ Buys a 8-by-12 full bedroom ♪ ♪ I'm a man of means by no means ♪ ♪ The king of the ♪ ♪ Road ♪ - You got it.

That is the little scrap of paper.

'Cause like I say, this was in 1982 or '83, but that is the little scrap of paper that he had first started writing "King of the Road" that won five Grammys for him back in the early '60s.

It was the first little, so, and he'd kept it as kind of a memento.

So he put that back in the shoebox, and he takes out another piece of paper, he says, ♪ Dang me ♪ ♪ Dang me ♪ ♪ Oughta take a rope and hang me ♪ ♪ High from the highest tree ♪ ♪ Woman, would you weep for me ♪ ♪ Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh ♪ (Larry laughs) - That's really what it said on the paper, "Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh."

All right.

All of this is true.

He put that piece of paper back in the shoebox.

He took out another piece of paper.

And as fate would have it, it was not a song that he had already written.

It was just a song idea that he had had in that shoebox for Lord only knows how long.

So he decides to play the little one line, make it up on the spot and see if Lorenzo can keep up game, right?

So he takes a piece of paper and he says, ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Because my tears feel right at home in Salt Lake City ♪ (laughs) He looked up at me and I said, ♪ And if I keep on crying ♪ ♪ I'll have a Salt Lake all my own ♪ Ha, ha, ha, ha, Roger Miller.

I did not get a chance to write that song with my dear friend before he went to the other side of the big river.

Here's the deal, Rog, I wrote it for us and I gave you half credit.

And when I get checks from Spot service, Spot something, what is it, Spot?

- Spotify.

- Spotify, yeah.

And Tube, Tube stuff.

Tube.

- YouTube.

- YouTube, yeah.

Yeah, I take 'em to Mary and make sure you get your half.

After all, it was your idea, and I miss you every day.

♪ Salt Lake City is mighty pretty ♪ ♪ This time of year ♪ ♪ Looking out over the lake ♪ ♪ You can almost see forever from here ♪ ♪ It's been two years since she left me in tears ♪ ♪ I remember what she said back then ♪ ♪ She said, I don't care ♪ ♪ If I ever see you or Utah again ♪ ♪ And I'm still here because my tears ♪ ♪ Feel right at home in Salt Lake City ♪ ♪ And if I keep on cryin' ♪ ♪ I'll have a salt lake all my own ♪ ♪ Gotta get out of this beautiful town ♪ ♪ 'Cause it only reminds me ♪ ♪ Of how happy we were ♪ ♪ When we called Utah home ♪ ♪ Salt Lake City is mighty pretty ♪ ♪ This time of year ♪ ♪ Looking out of the snow-capped mountains ♪ ♪ You can almost see forever from here ♪ ♪ It's been two years since she left me in tears ♪ ♪ I remember what she said back then ♪ ♪ She said, I don't care ♪ ♪ If I ever see you or Utah again ♪ ♪ She said, I don't care ♪ ♪ If I ever see you or Utah ♪ ♪ Again ♪ That's what she said, Rog.

(gentle guitar music) And I miss him every day.

I really do, he was a piece of...

I'll do my best.

♪ When it's over ♪ ♪ Really over ♪ ♪ There ain't nothing ♪ ♪ That can start it over again ♪ ♪ Pack your bags and leave ♪ ♪ Ain't no use to grieve ♪ ♪ Though you've lost a lover ♪ ♪ Try to win a friend ♪ ♪ The parting's easier ♪ ♪ When there are smiles instead of tears ♪ ♪ In your dreams you'll see that moment ♪ ♪ Even if you live a million years ♪ ♪ Shake hands goodbye then ♪ ♪ For remember when ♪ ♪ Though you've lost a lover ♪ ♪ Try to win a friend ♪ ♪ Though you leave behind a lover ♪ ♪ Leave behind a friend ♪ ♪ When it's over ♪ So one night in 19-something or other, they had the Grammys in New York City, Radio City Music Hall.

And Lionel Richie and I were sitting on the front row and we were betting hundred-dollar bills as to who was gonna win the next Grammy.

Well, Barry Gibb had produced an album on Barbra, and there were all kind of rumors flying around, so they named this album "Guilty."

And we didn't bet on that one because we knew it was gonna win the award, right?

So sure enough, they won the award.

It was the last award of the night.

And I went up on stage, and Barbra was very gracious.

She said, "I love that song.

I'm still gonna put that in an album someday."

And she did, thank God.

Well, I was just standing there because I wanted to talk to Barry Gibb.

I had never met Barry Gibb, and I was a big Bee Gees fan.

So I was waiting my turn, and he turned around, and I stuck out my hand and said, "Barry, I'm," "Oh dear God, we love the Gatlin Brothers!"

(audience laughing) Hugs me like this.

So he invited me to his suite at the Waldorf Astoria, and his only, Robin, Maurice was not there.

It was just Barry and Robin.

Well the brothers, Steve and Rudy weren't with me.

So we stayed up until six o'clock in the morning eating room service, and I would sing the missing Bee Gee part on their songs, and the two of them would sing the missing Gatlin Brothers songs on my songs.

And it was absolutely one of the most incredible nights of my life.

So we formed this friendship, decided to go, he invited me to Florida to write songs with him.

So we got down there, we got in the middle of this song that we were writing, and he said, "You know, mate, this sounds like an Orbison tune."

I said, "Let's call him."

He said, "Do you know him?"

Okay, golly.

Okay, let me tell you this story real quickly.

I went to Reno with Dottie West, and I was in her band.

Well, she got a nice room, and she was supposed to, she was the star, at the big hotel, and she got us, the band, a little room down at another little hotel 'cause she got a good weekly rate on it.

And they normally rented it by the hour.

(audience laughing) I can't go into that.

And the snow was blowing in the windows and it was cold.

Well, Janis, my sweet wife, had just given birth a month earlier to our daughter, our first child, Kristin.

And she was recovering, you know, from the childbirth.

And by the way, gentlemen, let's give the ladies a hand.

Okay?

Huh?

God bless you.

Thank you, sweet babies.

And so anyway, we were sad, and I wrote the saddest song of my life.

Well, two or three years later, Brother Steve and Brother Rudy and I had some albums, and we started headlining shows in Vegas.

And I met a gentleman, and at that time he came to our show one night and I sang this song, and he really liked it.

Back then his name was Tom Jones.

And then he recorded my song, and they gave him a knighthood, they made him Sir Tom Jones.

And I think my song had something to do with it.

(audience laughing) Janis and I went to see him about three years ago in Dallas, and we were backstage getting ready, they said we could meet him.

And he came down the hall singing my song.

You won't believe what happened next.

Can I get a video of you doing this?

(people laughing) Do that.

- (coughs) I wasn't expecting to, anyway.

♪ The heart is a funny thing ♪ ♪ With a mind all its own ♪ ♪ It withers like a garden ♪ ♪ Left unattended and alone ♪ Go ahead.

♪ And the thorns of loneliness invade ♪ ♪ And destroy what they can steal ♪ ♪ So easy to hurt ♪ ♪ But oh so hard to heal ♪ (person laughs) - All right.

(people cheering) - Sir Tom Jones.

Honey, I'm just gonna sing the last little part of this.

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ So easy to hurt ♪ ♪ But oh so hard to heal ♪ ♪ Hard to ♪ ♪ Heal ♪ (gentle guitar music) (audience applauding) Oh.

Oh my goodness.

Well, had so many incredible things happen.

Four years ago, I was very honored to be able to present the Texas Medal of the Arts to my friend Kris Kristofferson, who I very simply think is the greatest wordsmith in the English language since William Shakespeare.

I really do.

And I told him that that night.

And I said, "If Willie were here, I think he'd say, 'Gatlin, (inhales) I think you're right.'"

(audience laughing) I was on the golf course 19 years ago, and my cell phone rang, I answered it.

This big booming voice said, "Pilgrim?"

That's what Johnny Cash called me for 30 years, folks.

I said, "Hello, J.R. How are you?"

He said, "I'm fine, Pilgrim.

Miss June ain't doing too good.

The doctor says she's mighty sick.

She ain't gonna make it much longer.

But this morning she leaned over and whispered in my ear that she wants you and those two rascal brothers of yours to sing that 'Help Me' song you wrote.

That's her favorite Gatlin Brothers song.

She wants y'all to sing it at her funeral, whenever that is.

Well, folks, it was eight days later.

Brother Steve and Brother Rudy and I were very honored to be asked to sing at June's going away party.

She's a heck of a gal.

I miss her every day, I really do.

It was barely five months later I was very honored to be asked to help carry my friend, my buddy, my big brother, Johnny Cash, to his final earthly resting place.

This is not show business, folks, it's the truth.

I looked down that casket, I said, "J.R., me and the boys are gonna sing and play 'Help Me' every show we ever do the rest of our lives, and we're gonna try to sing it real pretty for the folks who paid to get in.

We're gonna dedicate it to you and Miss June every time.'"

That's what we've done.

This is what I'm gonna do now.

♪ Come down ♪ ♪ From your golden throne ♪ ♪ To me ♪ ♪ To lowly me ♪ Hello, June Love.

♪ I need to feel the touch ♪ ♪ Of your tender hand ♪ ♪ Remove the chains of darkness ♪ ♪ And let me see, Lord, let me see ♪ Hello, J.R. ♪ Just where I fit into ♪ ♪ Your master plan ♪ ♪ I never thought I needed help before ♪ ♪ I thought ♪ ♪ That I could get by ♪ ♪ By myself ♪ ♪ Now I know I just can't take any more ♪ ♪ With a humble heart on bended knees ♪ ♪ I'm begging you please ♪ ♪ For help ♪ Lord, help us get along without June Love and J.R.

It's gonna be hard.

(audience applauding) Ah.

(audience applauding) They were incredible people and I miss them every day.

Had so many incredible things happen in my life since we moved out of West Texas and away from Odessa.

And like I say, we've taken you good folks every place we've been.

I hope you know that.

We're the same little turd blossoms we were when we were here.

(audience laughing) Especially Rudy.

(audience laughing) And none of this would've happened without those boys, Brother Steve and Brother Rudy.

We're grateful for what home means.

♪ I made a lot of money in the key of G ♪ ♪ And I've lost a lot of Grammys in the key of G ♪ ♪ But I never would've made that money without RG ♪ ♪ And SG and big G ♪ We have been so blessed.

As you can tell, I have no internal dialogue.

(laughs) It's all external.

A year ago, Steve and Rudy and I... Well, maybe more than that.

It was before the pandemic.

I guess I've lost a couple years.

So a little over two years ago, we were gonna do a big tour of Canada.

We were gonna be gone to Canada, and then we were also going to another foreign country after that, California.

(audience laughing) And we were gonna be gone about 10 days.

We don't do that very much anymore.

We'll go out three or four days and come back.

But it was a long tour, and Janis and I had some new people taking care of the money, and they did not want me to use my American Express.

They said if we happen to get a month behind, the interest rate is 30.84%.

We want you to pay cash and bring us a receipt.

We were gonna be gone for 10 days.

Folks, you're gonna spend money on the road.

I said, well, 10 days you're gonna spend a hundred bucks a day at least, bring me a thousand bucks.

They brought me a thousand, a big old wad of bills.

And I stuck that wad of bills in my pocket.

And I said out loud, I said, Larry Wayne, you got more money in your pocket than your daddy ever had in the bank.

And I wrote.

♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ Winds of goodness ♪ ♪ Grace and mercy ♪ ♪ And filled my sails ♪ ♪ As full as they could safely be ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ I've got more money in my pocket ♪ ♪ Than my daddy ever had in the bank ♪ ♪ I don't know if there's someone to blame ♪ ♪ But I do know there is one to thank ♪ ♪ I've had my share of ups and downs ♪ ♪ I've sailed some stormy sea ♪ ♪ But mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ Winds of goodness ♪ ♪ Grace and mercy ♪ ♪ Filled my sails ♪ ♪ As full as they could safely be ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ So forgive me, Lord ♪ ♪ If I start complaining ♪ ♪ That the sun's too hot ♪ ♪ The wind's too cold ♪ ♪ Or that it's raining ♪ ♪ I've been blessed as any man ♪ ♪ Could ever be ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ Sing it with me.

♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on ♪ Winds of goodness, grace, and mercy.

♪ Winds of goodness ♪ ♪ Grace and mercy ♪ Fill my sails as full as they could safely be.

♪ Fill my sails ♪ ♪ As full as they could safely be ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ ♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ For 67 years, you and millions of people around the world have been the fair winds blowing on the Gatlin Brothers.

Fair winds from right here in Odessa.

Mr. Bill Herron, my coach.

Dr. Maurice Alfred, our choir director.

Ms. Iris Cherry at Sam Houston Elementary School who read to us every day after lunch the entire Charles Dickens novel, "Tale of Two Cities."

To Miss Anne Louise Jones, who gave me that book report on John Steinbeck that later helped me write "All the Gold in California."

That's the kind of winds that have been blowing on me.

And we always feel you good Odessa folks had our backs.

I've had a wonderful, wonderful time.

God bless you.

♪ Mostly fair winds ♪ ♪ Have blown on me ♪ I love you and God loves you.

Goodnight.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) I wanna thank you.

Go home!

(audience laughing) ♪ I made a lot of money in the key of G. ♪ ♪ The key of G has been good to me and my family ♪ ♪ The old time pickers in Nashville ♪ ♪ They swear that G is the people's key ♪ ♪ I've made a lot of money in the key of G ♪ Y'all are quick.

♪ And I've lost a lot of Grammys in the key of G ♪ ♪ Don't any of y'all feel sorry for me ♪ ♪ After all, none of y'all ♪ ♪ Ever lost a Grammy ♪