The Sitze brothers of Flat River Band pay tribute to The Gatlin Brothers in their latest project, the five-song EP Sights and Sounds.
The country and bluegrass trio Flat River Band knew they wanted Sights and Sounds to be big, but they never imagined The Gatlin Brothers would be in on it. When Flat River Band was dreaming up their new compilation, they tossed around the idea of including The Gatlins' hit song “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love.”
“Growing up listening to The Gatlin Brothers, we have always been a fan of their harmonies,” Dennijo Sitze told C&I.“We were sitting around the basement, singing this song, and we knew instantly we needed to record it!”
The brothers got busy recording the five-song EP, with The Gatlins' tune second on the track list. Then, a friend suggested they reach out to the iconic country music band to see if they'd like to make a vocal appearance.
“We were blown away by the response,” Chad Sitze says. “Larry said he loved our version and would love to be a part of it for free. We got together with Larry, Steve, and Rudy and recorded it at Creative Workshop Studios, the same place the original song was recorded. And to top it off, the Gatlins agreed to appear in the music video, which we shot at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville!”
We asked what it was like to record the song with another trio of brothers, and Larry Gatlin was quick to express his delight: "It was a kick. Great guys and great harmony. When other artists record my songs, it’s like someone patting my grandkids on the head and sayin', ‘Ain't they cute?’”
C&I is excited to exclusively premiere the tribute video here.
Sights and Sounds Track Listing
1. Ain’t a Woman Like a River
2. I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love
3. The River Song
4. Shining Through My Window
5. Helplessly Hoping
For more information on the Flat River Band, visit flatriverband.com. Sights and Sounds is available for download/streaming now here.
Photography: (All images) courtesy Flat River Band