The Vegas Voice 7-20

The Statler Brothers
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
In 1948, The Statler Brothers were four
young men and formed a singing quartet
called The Four Stars, first singing in their
hometown of Staunton, Virginia. They mixed comedy with country,
gospel harmonies, and barbershop music.
Harold Reid said, “We took gospel harmonies and put them into
country music.” Gospel harmonies are religious and can be very
complex.
They sang at least one gospel song in each of their performances.
The Blackwood Bros were a big influence on their harmonies.
Beginning members were Harold Reid, bass and comedian; Phil
Baisley, baritone; Joe McDorman, lead singer; and Lew DeWitt, tenor.
They changed their name to The Kingsman. The group became very
popular from 1964-1972 as Johnny Cash’s opening act and backup
singers.
None had the surname of Statler. It was a name they found on a
tissue box in a hotel room. They changed names because another
group had a name similar to The Kingsman.
Harold Reid had the idea to form the group. Joe McDorman quit
in 1960, replaced by Harold’s brother, Don. Phil Baisley remained a
member throughout their career,
Jimmy Fortune joined the group in 1960, replacing Lew Dewitt who
became ill with Crohn’s Disease. DeWitt performed solo afterwards
before dying in 1990. Harold died in 2020.
Phil Baisley continued in music for a while after the Statler Brothers
retired. He lost two sons in accidents and his wife in 2014. He was
known as “the quiet one.”
Don Reid was married and had several children. He still lives in
Virginia. He has written seven books including Sunday Morning
Memories and was the lyricist for the group, and co-writer for 40 of
their 66 hits.
The Statlers were one of the most successful and awarded country
harmony groups. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of
Fame.
Some of their greatest hits from their 40 albums plus singles were:
The Class of ‘57, Flowers on the Wall, How Great Thou Art, Daddy Sang
Bass, Bed of Roses and Do You Know You Are My Sunshine.
The group seemed to know “when to hold them and when to fold
them,” and disbanded after a successful tour in 2002.
Yvonne Cloutier, a former teacher/principal, with a music
background, specializes in ragtime piano. She researches and
reports about music on SCA-TV.com/Anthem Alive! You can
contact her at www.mytimeisragtime.com.
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8
July 2020