The Statler Brothers had six members across their career: Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Lew DeWitt, Don Reid, Jimmy Fortune and the group’s original lead singer, Joe McDorman. The classic line-up of Don Reid, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley and Lew DeWitt took the Statler Brothers name in 1963, and Jimmy Fortune replaced DeWitt in the 1980s. Despite the name, only two of them, Harold and Don Reid, were actual brothers.
The vocal group came from Staunton, Virginia, and was active from 1955 to 2002. They spent eight years as Johnny Cash’s opening act and backing singers before becoming one of country music’s most successful quartets with hits such as “Flowers on the Wall.” Here is every member and the part each one played.
Harold Reid
Harold Reid was one of the group’s founders when it began as the amateur Four Star Quartet in Staunton, singing in local churches. He was one of the two real Reid brothers in the group and stayed through its whole history, which made him part of every era from the Four Star Quartet to the final years of the Statler Brothers.
Phil Balsley
Phil Balsley was also part of the group from its early days in Staunton and remained a member until the group stopped performing. He appears in the classic line-up that adopted the Statler Brothers name in 1963.
Lew DeWitt
Lew DeWitt was a member of the classic quartet and wrote “Flowers on the Wall,” the group’s major pop hit. After years of ill health he retired from the group in 1982. Following a two-year break he pursued a solo career as far as his health allowed. He died in 1990, aged 52.
Don Reid
Don Reid, Harold’s brother, joined in 1959 when he replaced original lead singer Joe McDorman. At that point the group reorganized as The Kingsmen and built separate country, pop and gospel shows for different venues. Don Reid sang lead with the group for the rest of its career.
Jimmy Fortune
Jimmy Fortune replaced Lew DeWitt after DeWitt’s retirement. Fortune wrote “More Than a Name on a Wall,” which became the group’s final major hit in 1989.
Joe McDorman
Joe McDorman was the original lead singer of the Four Star Quartet. He was replaced by Don Reid in 1959, before the group took the Statler Brothers name.
Line-Up Changes at a Glance
- 1955: The group forms in Staunton, Virginia, as the Four Star Quartet, with Joe McDorman as lead singer.
- 1959: Don Reid replaces Joe McDorman, and the group becomes The Kingsmen.
- 1963: Don Reid, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley and Lew DeWitt become The Statler Brothers.
- 1982: Lew DeWitt retires because of ill health; Jimmy Fortune takes his place.
- 2002: The group’s active years end.
You can also browse the complete member line-ups of Sawyer Brown and Shenandoah.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Were the Statler Brothers really brothers? Only two of them were: Harold Reid and Don Reid. Phil Balsley, Lew DeWitt and later Jimmy Fortune were not related to them.
- Who wrote “Flowers on the Wall”? Lew DeWitt.
- Who replaced Lew DeWitt in the Statler Brothers? Jimmy Fortune, who went on to write “More Than a Name on a Wall.”
- Did the Statler Brothers work with Johnny Cash? Yes. From 1964 they spent eight years as his opening act and backing vocalists, including singing on At Folsom Prison and appearing on The Johnny Cash Show.
- How did the Statler Brothers get their name? The group started as the Four Star Quartet and then performed as The Kingsmen. In 1963, after the rock band The Kingsmen had a major hit with “Louie, Louie” and a gospel group in the Carolinas was also using the name, they needed a new one. Taking a cue from a box of facial tissue in their hotel, they became The Statler Brothers.
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