The Gatlin Quartet "The Gatlin Quartet" (EP) (Sword And Shield Records, 1959-?) (7")
The primeval southern gospel roots of Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Texas kids who went on to become major hitmakers in the 1970s and '80s top forty country charts. The quartet was made up of Larry, the oldest, who was eleven when this came out, Steve (age eight), Rudy (seven) and their little sister, LaDonna, who was five. They had experience singing at their local church in Odessa, and wound up making several records together while still kids. Larry Gatlin played football while in college, but music was his true calling. He was recruited into a top southern gospel group, The Imperials, and while singing with them came to the attention of several Nashville stars, and broke into the secular country scene first as a songwriter and a sideman. In 1976 he brought his brothers Rudy and Steve back in as his musical partners, and the Gatlin Brothers became key figures in the group harmony sound of the late 'Seventies and early 'Eighties. LaDonna Gatlin also continued to record, though less prolifically and strictly within the confines southern gospel industry, under her maiden name and as LaDonna Gatlin Johnson, in a duo with her husband, Tim Johnson. This early, four-song EP showed the Gatlin kids working firmly within the southern gospel mainstream, covering two songs by Hovie Lister, with backing from an unknown set of studio musicians.
The Gatlin Quartet "The Old Country Church" (Sword And Shield Records, 1962) (LP)
The Gatlin Quartet "I Shall Not Be Moved" (Sword And Shield Records, 196--?) (LP)
The Gatlin Quartet "Tenth Anniversary" (Sword And Shield Records, 196--?) (LP)
The Blackwood Singers "From Nashville" (Impact Records, 1974) (LP)
LaDonna Gatlin briefly joined this offshoot of the fabled Blackwood Brothers southern gospel group, a youth-oriented side project led by R. W. Blackwood, Jr., and his wife Donna. The album's Music City theme lent itself to a few semi-secular numbers, though it's definitely a gospel album. The vocal quartet included Donna Blackwood, R.W. Blackwood, LaDonna Gatlin and bass vocalist Denny Yeary. In addition to covers of country hits such as "This Old House" and Johnny Cash's "Daddy Sang Bass," they sang one of Larry Gatlin's songs. "Help Me." I'm not sure if LaDonna sang on any of the other Blackwood Singers albums, since most of their releases don't include musician credits. This was also the same year she married minister Tim Johnson, who she recorded with for the next several years.
Larry Gatlin "With Family And Friends" (Monument Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Fred Foster, Brent Maher & Charle Tallent)
The original family quartet was reunited on this album, which proved to be Larry Gatlin's big commercial breakthrough, after a couple of earlier albums struggling to crack into the top forty country charts. The Gatlins crystal-clear sibling harmonies buoyed the Top Five hit, "Broken Lady," which was a staple of late 'Seventies country radio. LaDonna Gatlin toured with her brothers for a while, appearing on TV and her high harmonies blend in so effortlessly, you might be forgiven for not even realizing there was a "girl" in the group to begin with. I'm not sure why they whittled the act down to "The Gatlin Brothers," though it was likely that she just wanted to stick to religious music, as seen in her subsequent career... Also, apparently, she bowed out of her southern gospel career as well, choosing instead to spend more time as a mom, raising her kids in Texas. But, boy, her secular singing was mighty nice, too.
Dallas Holm & Praise "Live" (Greentree Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Phil Johnson)
Before she mostly retired from music in the late 'Seventies, LaDonna Johnson and her husband Tim were core members of Contemporary Christian star Dallas Holm's backing group, Praise. I think they were only featured on these two album, though it's quite possible there are others.
Dallas Holm & Praise "Tell 'Em Again" (Greentree Records, 1978) (LP)
LaDonna Johnson also sings on this album and is credited as co-composer on two songs, the title track, "Tell 'Em Again," and "You Never Gave Up On Me." Her husband, Tim Johnson, plays keyboards, with both the Johnsons pictured as members of the band.
Tim & LaDonna "Tim And LaDonna" (Stronghold Records, 1986)
A slick, modern southern gospel set featuring Larry Gatlin's kid sister, LaDonna Gatlin Johnson, in a duo with her husband, keyboard player and vocalist Tim Johnson. They had both been working as members of songwriter Dallas Holm's group, Praise, with LaDonna also helping compose music for Holms's repertoire.
LaDonna Gatlin "LaDonna Gatlin" (La Donna Gatlin, 1995-?)
(Produced by Tim Johnson)
LaDonna Gatlin "Christmas Memories" (La Donna Gatlin, 19--?)
(Produced by Greg Hunt)
LaDonna Gatlin "The Song In You" (La Donna Gatlin, 1996)
(Produced by Tim Johnson)
Kind of an odd confluence of secular and religious material, with Ms. Gatlin going to traditionalist touchstones -- a gospel medley of older material like Hank Williams' "I Saw The Light" and "I'll Fly Away" (but no more modern southern gospel or contemporary Christian songs), an equally old-fashioned patriotic medley worthy of Kate Smith, and 'Seveties medley split between soft pop, showtunes and gal-centric country hits such as "Let Me Be There" and "Stand By Your Man." There are also a couple of originals from LaDaonna and Tim Johnson -- "Mary Kay" and "The Song In You" -- as well as a song from her big brother, Larry Gatlin, "Help Me."
Southern gospel artist LaDonna Gatlin Johnson was the kid sister of country star Larry Gatlin, whose own career also had early roots in the southern Christian music scene. She and her husband, keyboard player and evangelical minister Tim Johnson were members of songwriter Dallas Holm's group, Praise, with LaDonna also helping compose music for Holms's repertoire. The Johnsons also recorded as a duo, and LaDonna briefly toured and recorded with the Gatlin Brothers just as they became a chart-topping national act. Here's a quick look at her work...
