Tag Archives: Will Rogers

W. B. Nowlin

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W B Nowlin3

W. B. Nowlin  [1905 – 1994] was one of the most successful promoters of gospel music concerts in America. As a native of Fort Worth, he worked closely with V. O. Stamps (in Dallas) and was very instrumental in booking gospel quartets on daily radio programs in the 1930’s and 40’s. After the end of W.W. II, he began promoting gospel sings throughout the United States, particularly in the southwestern states. He became known for a regular promotion billed as the “Battle of Songs,” an event which placed popular gospel quartets on stage in friendly head-to-head competition. Throughout his career of over four decades, W. B. expanded the influence of Southern Gospel Music and, in 1970, organized the first industry concert in Hawaii. His regular gospel music concert at Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth drew overflow crowds from all across North Texas. He especially loved local Texas groups and became a close friend of Calvin Wills and the Singing Wills Family and was honored by Calvin by a special musical eulogy at his funeral service.

Larry Gatlin

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LarryG&Cal&BobBorn Larry Wayne Gatlin May 2, 1948, in Seminole, Texas.

Larry Gatlin, lead singer and songwriter for the Gatlin Brothers, has enjoyed a phenomenal country music career spanning more than four decades, but his heart has always been in gospel music. Larry began performing gospel songs with his younger brothers for a radio station in Abilene, Texas, at age seven. (He says his heroes were James Blackwood and Jake Hess.) With many number one country music hits written by Larry and multiple Grammy awards, the Gatlins are a household name in country music.

When Bill Gaither gathered the first little band of Homecoming Friends in a Nashville recording studio a few years ago, Larry Gatlin was there stirring up the excitement, singing with his gospel heroes. Later, “The Gatlin Brothers Come Home” produced by Bill Gaither, became a best seller in the Gaither Hall of Honor Series.

In the nineties, Larry starred in the Broadway hit “The Will Rogers Follies.” He followed that by headlining a major theatrical production “Civil War.” His life story – All The Gold In California – was released by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1998, named for one of Larry’s best known hit songs.

When this famous country star shows up at a Gaither video taping with his Homecoming Friends (which is often) everyone in the studio listens in quiet awe at the vocal beauty and depth of expression of Larry Gatlin. Lou Wills Hildreth says, “These moments make me glad that we made the Gatlinís first recordings on Sword & Shield Records, owned by the Wills Family, years ago in Texas.” Larry was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1997. Rudy, Steve, and sister LaDonna were inducted in 2003.