The Statler Brothers are a country music vocal quartet who hail from Staunton, Virginia. They have essentially retired from country music, however they still record and still are very popular among the fans. The members were Don Reid (lead vocals), Harold Reid (bass), Phil Balsley (baritone), and Jimmy Fortune (tenor). (Fortune had replaced original tenor Lew DeWitt, who left the group in 1982 after falling ill with Crohn's Disease. Lew later died in 1990.)
The four members have distinct personalities: Don is the main songwriter and spokesman for the group; Harold is the clown, often exchanging jokes with other members onstage, and supervises all their album covers; Phil is known as "The Quiet One" and handles the business and administrative affairs of the group; and Jimmy brings his extensive gospel background to the mix.
The quartet was formed in the 1950's, and sang for the church. Their original members were actually Lew DeWitt, Joe McDorman, Phil Balsley, and Harold Reid. McDorman left the group, and was replaced by Harold's younger brother, Don. Eventually joining Johnny Cash's TV show, they got their start as professional country singers (as related in the song "We Got Paid By Cash" some years later). Their first hit was Flowers on the Wall which was released in 1965. It netted them a Grammy and it also was a crossover hit. Their real success, however, came in 1970 when they signed for Mercury Records. Mercury gave them greater creative control over their material. The songs often reflected "Middle America" often with a strong emphasis on nostalgia for the 1950's. They are known as the most awarded act in the history of Country Music.
