Harold Reid of the Statler Brothers Dies

Harold Reid, who sang bass for the Grammy-winning country group the Statler Brothers, has died after a long battle with kidney failure. He was 80. Reid died Friday in his hometown of Staunton, Virginia.
Bandmate Jimmy Fortune posted a message on Facebook that read in part, "Our hearts are broken tonight. Our prayers and our thoughts are with [Reid's wife] Brenda and his children and grandchildren and with my other brothers, Don and Phil. We made a lot of great memories together. I'll miss you, brother, till I see you again."
"He is and will always be loved by his family, friends and millions of fans," a statement on the band's website said. "His singing, his songwriting and his comedy made generations happy. He has taken a piece of our hearts with him."Reid and three boyhood friends - Lew DeWitt, Phil Balsley and Joe McDorman - formed the Four-Star Quartet in 1948. The group, later known as the Kingsmen, sang mostly gospel music. McDorman quit and was replaced by Don Reid, Harold's younger brother.
Reid with his younger brother Don and Phil Balsley and Lew DeWitt (neither of whom were related) form the Statler Brothers. 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 neither has the surname of Statler. The group actually named themselves after a brand of facial tissue they had noticed in a hotel room (they quipped that they could have eventually named themselves "the Kleenex Brothers").
Harold Reid was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. For seven years in the 90s, every Saturday night on their television series on TNN, Harold, Phil, Jimmy and Don closed every show with a gospel song. In 2010, Gaither Music released a 2-DVD and a 2-CD collection of their Gospel songs.
Tags : harold reid statler brothers Statler Brothers news harold reid death Harold Reid funeral Harold Reid dies
Hot Trends
-
Crowder Undergoes Emergency Surgery Following Leg Injury
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
Recent Accident Inspires Forrest Frank’s New Single "Lemonade (feat. The Figs)"
-
"Finished" by Caleb and John: A Soul-Stirring Anthem Celebrating Christ’s Complete Victory
-
Wanda Bell Launches LadyBellRadio.com 24/7 Gospel Music Platform
-
Matt Maher Reflects on Historic Vigil in Rome
-
Mel Gibson’s Resurrection To Hit Theaters In Two Parts On Good Friday And Ascension Day
-
Bishop Thomas Tyrone Tribbett, Father of Gospel Artist Tye Tribbett, Passes Away
-
FREE MUSIC: CeCe Winans "Believe for It"
-
Here Are Lyrics to Bethel Music's "The Church"
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Martin Smith's "Garment of Praise"
-
Forrest Frank Turns Pain into Praise with New Single “Lemons Into Lemonade”
-
Chris Rice Maintains Public Silence Following Abuse Allegations; Focuses on Writing and Speaking
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter
Most Popular
-
Crowder Undergoes Emergency Surgery Following Leg Injury
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
Recent Accident Inspires Forrest Frank’s New Single "Lemonade (feat. The Figs)"
-
"Finished" by Caleb and John: A Soul-Stirring Anthem Celebrating Christ’s Complete Victory
-
Wanda Bell Launches LadyBellRadio.com 24/7 Gospel Music Platform
-
Matt Maher Reflects on Historic Vigil in Rome
-
Mel Gibson’s Resurrection To Hit Theaters In Two Parts On Good Friday And Ascension Day
-
Bishop Thomas Tyrone Tribbett, Father of Gospel Artist Tye Tribbett, Passes Away
-
FREE MUSIC: CeCe Winans "Believe for It"
-
Here Are Lyrics to Bethel Music's "The Church"
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Martin Smith's "Garment of Praise"
-
Forrest Frank Turns Pain into Praise with New Single “Lemons Into Lemonade”
-
Chris Rice Maintains Public Silence Following Abuse Allegations; Focuses on Writing and Speaking
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter