INTRODUCING PROFESSOR LARRY GATLIN

GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SINGER TO TEACH MASTER CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PERMIAN BASIN

Gatlin’s Professorship Launches January 23 with Eight-Week Songwriting Course

GRAMMY® Award-winning Larry Gatlin is headed back to school. Not to learn— but to teach! The University of Texas Permian Basin (located in Odessa, TX) will debut its latest faculty member, Professor of Practice Gatlin, on January 23 when the legendary singer begins his own eight-week songwriting master class.

“Grammy Award-winning musician Larry Gatlin will be sharing his art of creative writing and storytelling with students this spring—all the skills that made him a hall of fame singer-songwriter,” explains UT Permian Basin President, Dr. Sandra Woodley. “As UTPB’s new Professor of Practice, he will lead an exciting new master class to share his experiences and encourage people from all walks of life to explore their own creativity and passion. We are thrilled about this partnership.”

“I believe there are only two kinds of people in the world … rocks and sponges,” quips Gatlin. “I am a sponge, and I am going to squeeze myself out on those kids at UTPB in the hope that some of them are sponges too.”

Gatlin is no stranger to West Texas. He was born in Seminole in 1948 and graduated from Odessa High School. He attended the University of Houston on a football scholarship where he majored in English and developed “a love affair with the English Language” that later served him well in his songwriting.

On the strength of his songwriting talents, Gatlin became known throughout the Nashville music industry. Gatlin, along with brothers Steve and Rudy, collectively known as the Gatlin Brothers, racked up hit after hit and banked some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Gatlin penned every Gatlin Brothers hit you’ve ever heard. He has written songs that were later recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Rich, Johnny Mathis, Dottie West, and many more. In 2019, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

About Larry Gatlin
The close family harmonies of Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers have given the trio a signature sound that led to country classics like “All the Gold in California” and “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You).” The brothers won a GRAMMY® for their 1976 breakthrough hit, “Broken Lady,” and reached #1 with several other songs soon thereafter. Along with five career nominations for the ACM Vocal Group, the Gatlin Brothers picked up three 1979 trophies: Single of the Year (“All the Gold in California”), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year for Larry Gatlin. The brothers were also nominated for multiple CMA Awards including Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Larry Gatlin has written songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, Roy Orbison, Barry Gibb and countless gospel artists including the Gaither Vocal Band, the Booth Brothers, the Isaacs and many more. Larry was formally inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the fall of 2019.