FRONT PAGE TENNESSEAN STORY HIGHLIGHTS “PROLIFIC” SONGWRITING CAREER OF LARRY GATLIN

Nashville, Tenn.  — In the 4th of July edition of The Tennessean, country music legend Larry Gatlin‘s songwriting career was front page news. Journalist Cindy Watts recently sat down with Gatlin to delve deep into his love of putting pencil to paper. Read the full article HERE.

Over the years, the GRAMMY® Award-winning artist has written songs that went on to be recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, Roy Orbison, Barry Gibb, and many others.

Recent research (conducted by New York City-based music historian John Alexander) shows that Gatlin’s songwriting credits rank him at #5 on the list of country music artists with the most self-penned Top 40 hits.

TOP 10 MALE & FEMALE ARTISTS WITH THE MOST SELF-PENNED TOP 40 HITS: (Excluding B-sides & Christmas Singles)

Merle Haggard (46) + (1 charting self-penned B-sides)
Marty Robbins (41) + (4 charting self-penned B-sides)
Hank Williams, Jr. (39)
Tom T. Hall (35)
Tie: Larry Gatlin (34) / Buck Owens (34)
Dolly Parton (33)
Don Gibson (30) + (4 charting self-penned B-sides)
Johnny Cash (28) + (5 charting self-penned B-sides)
Bill Anderson (27) + (2 charting self-penned B-sides)

“Somebody asked Roger Miller one time, ‘Why don’t you co-write?'” Gatlin recalls during the interview. “He said, ‘Did Picasso co-paint?’ I may not be the best songwriter in the world, but I am the best songwriter in the world to write songs for Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin. I’ve never been afraid to sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil in my hand.”