The Statler Brothers

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022

The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally and, in 1964, they began singing backup for Johnny Cash until 1972.

Don Reid sang lead; Harold Reid, Don's older brother, sang bass; Phil Balsley sang baritone; and Lew DeWitt sang tenor and was the guitarist of the Statlers before being replaced by Jimmy Fortune in 1983 due to DeWitt's ill health.

DeWitt continued to perform as a solo artist until his death on August 15, 1990, from heart and kidney disease. On April 24, 2020, Harold Reid died of kidney failure.

Starts

In 1955, Harold Reid (1939-2020), Lew DeWitt (1938-1990), Philip Balsley (b. 1939), and Joe McDorman formed the group in Staunton, Virginia under the name Four Star Quartet. Their first performance was in 1955 before an audience of 40 at a local Methodist church.

In 1961, Joe McDorman was replaced by Don Reid, Harold Reid's younger brother, and they renamed themselves The Kingsmen. The group played a catchy, nostalgia-oriented country gospel. Harold Reid's unusually deep bass, heard in almost every song, became a trademark. Their popularity in the Staunton area grew steadily. The number of gigs increased accordingly, even though all band members were still working at the time.

In August 1963, a first contact with Johnny Cash was made through a local concert promoter. It was even possible to perform a few pieces for him. Cash expressed himself quite positively, but then let nothing more from him. The later Statler Brothers didn't give up and kept bugging the big star until he included them in his show. Meanwhile another group with the name The Kingsmen appeared. Without further ado, they changed their name to The Statler Brothers. The name supposedly came from a box of paper towels, Statler Tissues, which happened to be on the table when the renaming was being discussed.

Career

Johnny Cash brought the quartet to the record company Columbia Records, to which he himself was also under contract. It was agreed that three singles would be produced. The first two efforts flopped, but the Lew DeWitt composition Flowers on the Wall reached high positions on both the country and pop charts and earned them two Grammys. The tune is now considered their best-known song. The drummer was W. S. Holland of Cash's band Tennessee Three. For more than eight years, the Statler Brothers worked with Johnny Cash, including appearances at his concerts At Folsom Prison, At San Quentin and At Madison Square Garden, and as the house band on The Johnny Cash Show. They thanked the man who paved the way for them with the song We Got Paid By Cash.

In 1969, the Statler Brothers moved to Mercury Records, where they were mentored by producer Jerry Kennedy, who was to play a significant part in the success that now followed. Harold Reid once described him as the fifth member of the Statler Brothers. Their very first single Bed Of Roses reached a top 10 position. This was followed by the hit The Class Of '57 in 1972 and Carry Me Back in 1973. The group produced numerous LPs during these years, including several concept albums. Many of their songs were original compositions, most written by Don Reid. Between 1972 and 1977, they won "CMA Vocal Group of the Year" six times in a row.

In 1982, the ailing Lew DeWitt was replaced by Jimmie Fortune. DeWitt died eight years later at the age of 52. Jimmie Fortune, who was also from the Staunton area, turned out to be a gifted songwriter. His 1983 penned Elizabeth reached the top of the country charts, as did My Only Love a year later and Too Much on My Heart in 1985.

From 1991, the Statler Brothers had their own television show. Record successes became rarer, but a loyal fan base continued to stand by them. In 1994, a 3-CD compilation was released containing the most important songs from 30 years.

The Statler Brothers gave their last concert on October 22, 2002, and have since retired from show business.

In 2008, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.