The Statler Brothers
American country and gospel vocal quartet formed in 1955, famed for close harmonies, the hit "Flowers on the Wall," backing Johnny Cash, and a long career blending music and stage comedy.
The Statler Brothers were an American vocal quartet whose sound combined elements of country, gospel, and pop-influenced harmony singing. Formed in the mid-1950s, they became widely known for polished four-part arrangements, warm baritone and bass lines, and a stage persona that mixed musical performance with lighthearted storytelling. Their best-known recording, "Flowers on the Wall," crossed over to pop audiences and remains a signature example of their blend of novelty and craftsmanship.
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Origins and early career
The group began performing locally in 1955 and built its reputation in church halls, radio shows, and regional engagements. Their tight vocal blend and repertoire of sacred songs, country standards, and comic numbers made them versatile performers for a variety of audiences. In 1964 they began a high-profile association when they joined Johnny Cash as part of his touring and recording ensemble, a collaboration that increased their exposure nationwide and helped launch their recording career.
Personnel and roles
The Statler Brothers were best known as a quartet whose members each had a distinct vocal function. Key figures included:
- Don Reid — principal lead singer and songwriter whose voice often carried the melody.
- Harold Reid — Don's older brother, known for his resonant bass.
- Phil Balsley — the group baritone who anchored harmonic movement and stage presence.
- Lew DeWitt — the original tenor and guitarist; health problems in the early 1980s led to his replacement by Jimmy Fortune, who contributed new material and helped sustain the group’s later success.
Their lineup and vocal roles (for example the contrast between baritone and tenor) were essential to the close-harmony sound that defined their recordings and live shows.
Musical style and repertoire
The Statlers combined sacred hymns, straight country ballads, and novelty or comedy songs into a program that appealed to conservative country audiences as well as mainstream listeners. Their arrangements often emphasized blended vowels, contrapuntal bass lines, and clear storytelling lyrics. While gospel remained a foundation, their ability to record pop-friendly singles and to perform humorous stage banter broadened their reach.
Achievements, later years, and legacy
Across decades of recording and touring, the group earned chart hits, television exposure, and numerous industry honors. They maintained public visibility through television specials and their own program on country-oriented networks, and they completed a formal farewell period before retiring from full-time touring. Members pursued solo projects after leaving the group: Lew DeWitt continued as a solo performer until his death from illness in 1990, and Harold Reid died in 2020. The Statler Brothers are frequently cited as influential in the development of modern country harmony singing and are remembered for balancing religious material with mainstream entertainment.
Notable songs and references
Among their best-known recordings are the crossover hit often referenced as emblematic of their style and the later material contributed by Jimmy Fortune. Their career is frequently discussed in histories of country and gospel music and in retrospectives on the era of touring backing bands and variety television. For further reading and archival material, consult resources on country vocal groups and period television shows that featured the ensemble, including documentation of their time with Johnny Cash and group biographies that trace the quartet’s formation and public impact. Additional background on their genre influences appears in studies of quartet singing and mid-20th-century American popular music.
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.
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Author
AlegsaOnline.com The Statler Brothers Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/98904
Sources
- countrymusichalloffame.com : countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=2452
- query.nytimes.com : "Lew DeWitt, 52, Tenor With the Statler Brothers"
- newsleader.com : "Harold Reid, founding member of Statler Brothers, dies at 80"