The Statler Brothers became a big hit in the 1960s.
The group produced more than 50 albums for 40 years. The Statler Brothers won Grammy Awards three times and were named the top vocal group by the Country Music Association nine times. They even had a cable television show, “The Statler Brothers Show,” which aired for seven seasons throughout the 1990s.
From Singing Gospel Music To Being Johnny Cash’s Touring Cast
In 1955, four childhood friends from Staunton, Virginia, started singing gospel music at local churches. Harold Reid, Lew DeWitt, Phil Balsley, and Joe McDorman were under the name the Four Star Quartet.
In 1958, the group changed their name to the Kingsmen, and by 1962, McDorman had been replaced by Reid’s brother Don. Eventually, the group settled on a new moniker, The Statler Brothers, to avoid confusion with other groups called the Kingsmen. The group picked its working name on an impulse, out a box of Statler facial tissues. Don Reid jokingly said: “We could just as easily be known as the Kleenex Brothers.”
And the real ride began in the early 1960s. The quartet switched to country music in 1964, after they met Cash and joined his roadshow.
Later, The Statler Brothers were urged to record commercially, and their first single, Flowers on the Wall, broke them as a national act. In 1970, they released “Bed of Roses.” This launched an eight-year string of solid country singles, including “Carry Me Back,” “I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You,” and “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine.”
However, in 1982, DeWitt was forced to leave the band due to Crohn’s disease; the illness killed him on August 15, 1990. Jimmy Fortune joined the remaining Statlers as DeWitt’s successor. Fortune immediately earned the group its second No. 1 with his “Elizabeth,” a tribute to actress Elizabeth Taylor.
The Statler Brothers’ music career never stopped soaring for the following decades.
Don Reid thinks that the way the band musically represented the middle-American culture and values was the reason for their success and longevity. “We talked about small-town life and memories and good American stories that everybody could relate to, from 9 to 90,” he said.
The Statler Brothers wrote original materials. They recorded albums that range from country to gospel to Christmas and even comedy. All through their career, most of their appeal was from the comedy and parody found in their musical acts. Thanks to the humorous talent of group member Harold Reid. As a result, they were frequently nominated for awards for their comedy too. They recorded two comedy albums alter egos Lester “Roadhog” Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys.
Another reason Don Reid sees for the group’s endurance is their continuous efforts to take care of their fans. “We always gave them the best show we could give, sent out a newsletter to keep them informed, and had a staff of six to answer every piece of fan mail, so we had a nice love affair with our fans,” he said.
