Their career began in Abilene, Texas in 1955 when Larry
was six, Steve was four and Rudy was two. The brothers grew
up singing gospel music while listening to James Blackwood
and the Blackwood Brothers, Hovie Lister and The Statesmen
Quartet as well other accomplished gospel artists. As children,
the brothers would sing for anyone who would listen. Soon
they were singing from coast to coast and appeared at the
World’s Fair in 1964 in New York City. They recorded four
gospel records early in their career. In 1966, Larry went to
college at the University of Houston where he studied English
and law. In 1971, he auditioned for The Imperials, Elvis’ backup
group.
While he did not get the job, he met Dottie West,
who was the opening act for Jimmy Dean. Dean would later
become one of Larry’s oldest and dearest friends. Dottie was
initially taken with Larry’s resemblance to Nashville songwriter
Mickey Newbury. She told him one night in Las Vegas that he
looked so much like Mickey, he had to be able to write great
songs, too. Encouraged, Larry returned to Houston and wrote
eight songs. He sent them to Dottie and she liked them so
much she sent him a plane ticket to Nashville.
Through Dottie’s friendship, Larry met Kris Kristofferson,
who championed his talents as a writer and singer.
Kristofferson’s introduction to Fred Foster at Mon.ument
Records resulted in a recording contract with the label. Larry’s
first album, The Pilgrim, was released later that year. Johnny
Cash wrote the liner notes for the album and dubbed him
“The Pilgrim” - a name Cash called him the rest of his life. At
this time, Steve and Rudy were still in college at Texas Tech
University, but in 1975 they moved to Nashville. The two joined
Larry the following year to form the group as we know it today.