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| Name | The Statler Brothers | |
|---|---|
| Background | group_or_band| |
| Origin | Staunton, Virginia, USA | |
| Instruments | | |
| Genre | Southern Gospel, Country, vocal harmony | |
| Formed | 1955 |
| Years active | 1955–2002 |
| Label | Columbia (1966–1969) Mercury (1970–1995) Music Box (2001–2002) Yell (2003) |
| Associated acts | Johnny Cash |
| Url | www.statlerbrothers.com | |
| Current members | | |
| Past members | Lew DeWittDon ReidHarold ReidPhil BalsleyJimmy FortuneJoe McDorman | |
The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.
Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen. 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). Don Reid sang lead. Harold Reid, Don's older brother, sang bass. Phil Balsley sang baritone and Jimmy Fortune sang tenor after replacing original tenor Lew DeWitt in the early 1980s due to the latter's ill health. DeWitt died on August 15, 1990 of heart and kidney disease, stemming from complications of Crohn's disease.
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."
Their songs have been featured on several film soundtracks. These range from "Charlotte's Web" in Smokey and the Bandit II, to "Flowers on the Wall" in the thriller Pulp Fiction.
Throughout their career, much of their appeal was related to their incorporation of comedy and parody into their musical act, thanks in large part to the humorous talent of Harold Reid; they were frequently nominated for awards for their comedy as well as their singing. They recorded two comedy albums as Lester "Roadhog" Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys, and one-half of one side of the album Country Music Then and Now was devoted to satirizing small-town radio stations' Saturday morning shows.
They earned the number one spot on the Billboard chart four times for "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine?" in 1978, "Elizabeth" in 1982, "My Only Love" in 1984, and "Too Much on My Heart" in 1985.
Since forming, the Statler Brothers have released over 40 albums.
The Statler Brothers purchased and renovated their former elementary school in Staunton, and occupied the complex for several years. The complex consisted of offices for the group, a small museum and auditorium, as well as an adjacent building which served as office space for unrelated businesses. A garage was built to store the two tour buses that the group had used for many years. The group has since sold the building which has been converted back into a school.
In 1970, the group began performing at an annual Independence Day festival in Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton. The event lasted for 25 years and included many country music figures including Mel Tillis, Charley Pride and many others. The event drew as many as 100,000 fans each year. The group also honored their hometown with the song "Staunton, Virginia" on their 1973 album Do You Love Me Tonight.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Inducted in 2008
Gospel Hall of Fame Inducted in 2007
Grammy Awards 1965 Best New Country & Western Artist 1965 Best Contemporary (R&R;) Performance - Group (Vocal or Instrumental) - "Flowers on the Wall" 1972 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "The Class of '57"
Since the Statlers' retirement in 2002, Don 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 co-wrote a history of the Statler Brothers titled Random Memories released in February 2008.
In an interview on Nashville's WSM (AM) on March 25, 2010, Wil Reid said that they decided to change their name to Wilson Fairchild after many people got the name Grandstaff wrong during introductions. The name comes from "Wilson," Wil's middle name, and "Fairchild," Langdon's middle name.
Category:American country music groups Category:Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Musical groups from Virginia Category:Vocal quartets Category:Musical groups established in 1955 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2002 Category:Mercury Records artists
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