Before he became a solo star, Larry Gatlin worked as a songwriter for Dottie West and a backup singer for Kris Kristofferson. His own run of hits began with 1974's "Delta Dirt," evincing the country-pop style that would dominate Nashville in decades to come. For most of his career Gatlin worked with his brothers Steve and Rudy, blending his distinctive voice with their harmonies; 1979's hit "All the Gold in California" was the first to credit the Gatlin Brothers. When the hits dried up during the '90s, Gatlin and the group moved on to success in Branson and Vegas.