Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen.[1]
In 1963, when the song "Louie, Louie" by the garage rock band also called The Kingsmen became famous, the group elected to bill themselves as The Statler Brothers. Despite the name, only two members of the group (Don and Harold Reid) are actual brothers and none have the surname of Statler.
The band, in fact, named themselves after a brand of facial tissue they had noticed in a hotel room (they joked that they could have turned out to be the Kleenex Brothers).[2]
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.[3]
DeWitt died on August 15, 1990, of heart and kidney disease, stemming from complications of Crohn's disease.[4]
The band's style was closely linked to their gospel roots. "We took gospel harmonies," said Harold Reid, "and put them over in country music."[1]
The group remained closely tied to their gospel roots, with a majority of their records containing at least one gospel song.
They produced several albums containing only gospel music and recorded a tribute song to the Blackwood Brothers, who influenced their music.
The Statler Brothers also wrote a tribute song to Johnny Cash, who discovered them. The song was called "We Got Paid by Cash", and it reminisces about their time with Cash.[1]
| The Statler Brothers | |
|---|---|
The Statler Brothers in 1983
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Staunton, Virginia, United States |
| Genres | Country, gospel, southern gospel, vocal harmony |
| Years active | 1955–2002 |
| Labels | Columbia, Mercury, Music Box, Yell |
| Associated acts | Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Blackwood Brothers |
| Website | www.statlerbrothers.com |
| Past members | Lew DeWitt Don Reid Harold Reid Phil Balsley Jimmy Fortune Joe McDorman |
Awards
Academy of Country MusicCountry Music Association
- 1972 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1973 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1974 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1975 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1976 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1977 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1979 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1980 Vocal Group of the Year
- 1984 Vocal Group of the Year
Gospel Hall of Fame
Grammy Awards
- 1965 Best New Country & Western Artist[12]
- 1965 Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance - Group (Vocal or Instrumental) - "Flowers on the Wall"[13]
- 1972 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "The Class of '57"[14]
- Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group 1979
- Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group 1980
- Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group 1981
Influence
The Statler Brothers have been credited as the first country music act to transfer the genre's nostalgia from a rural to a suburban setting.[8]They have also been called "America's Poets" by Kurt Vonnegut.[16]
Retirement
The group disbanded and retired after completing a farewell tour on October 26, 2002.Balsley and the Reid brothers continue to reside in Staunton, while Fortune has relocated to Nashville, where he is continuing his music career as a solo artist.
He has released three albums as a soloist. The Statlers continue to be the one of the most awarded acts in the history of country music.[15]
Since the Statlers' retirement in 2002, Don Reid has pursued a second career as an author. He authored or co-authored three books: Heroes and Outlaws of the Bible, Sunday Morning Memories, and You'll Know It's Christmas When.... He and Harold Reid co-wrote a history of the Statler Brothers titled Random Memories released in February 2008.
Source: Wikipedia.org
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