STAGE TUBE: Larry Gatlin Takes the Stage with MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Yesterday, August 8, Grammy-winning country music star Larry Gatlin took the stage of the Nederlander Theatre to join the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET in a special performance of the song "Johnny Cash is Dead and His House Burned Down," a song written in tribute to Cash who was a friend of Gatlin's. In addition, Gatlin wrote songs that were recorded by Cash, Elvis Presley, and Carl Perkins, three of the members of the real Million Dollar Quartet. BroadwayWorld brings you a look at his cameo below!

Larry Gatlin was born in 1948 in Seminole, Texas, the son of an oil driller. The oldest of the three Gatlin brothers, he was by age seven, already accompanying younger brothers, Steve and Rudy in singing at family and church events.After high school, Larry went to the University of Houston on a football scholarship. Larry majored in English and developed "a love affair with the English Language" that later served him in his songwriting.

On the strength of his songwriting talents, Larry Gatlin became known throughout Nashville music Industry. While Steve and Rudy were finishing college, Larry was already touring the small club and listening room circuit as a solo act, looking forward to the time when he could afford to expand his live show to include his brothers.

December 1992 marked a farewell to concert touring for the Gatlin brothers. Then came a major turning point in his career. Larry took the lead role in the Tony award winning best musical "The Will Rogers Follies."

Larry is a family man, who shares with his wife Janis, a home in Austin, Texas. They are the proud parents of two children, Josh and Kristin. Josh lives in Nashville, TN and works as Larry's manager. Kristin lives in Austin, with her husband Scott, who is on the coaching staff for the University of Texas football team.

Larry is also a "Papa" to Kristin's daughters, Parker and Campbell.

On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock and Roll," who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.

Inspired by the actual event, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET features a treasure trove of the greatest rock and roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these musicians, including such iconic songs as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Riders in the Sky," "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.

The cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET includes Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Tony Award and Outer Critics Award winner Levi Kreis (Jerry Lee Lewis), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster (Sam Phillips) and Elizabeth Stanley (Dyanne).

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Tony nominees Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team for Broadway includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).

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