The Statler Bros. (September 2006)
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east
Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as
'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with
their time & words. It is here, within this special
part of gene-watson.com, that you have an opportunity to
read
The Statler Brothers'
quote, which
they submitted to this site on Monday 18 September 2006.
I (Sean Brady)
would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
The Statler Brothers who has made a special contribution to a unique part
of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
 The
Statler Brothers
This quote was submitted on Monday 18 September 2006
'Gene Watson is probably the greatest
country singer of all time. If
there was a song, a performance, a track
& a singer to be placed in a time
capsule to tell the world forever more
what country music was and is, it should
be 'Farewell party' by Gene Watson'.
About The Statler Brothers...
The Statler Brothers
were formed in 1955
as The Kingsmen by Lew DeWitt, Philip Balsley &
Harold Reid at the Lyndhurst Methodist Church in
Staunton, Virginia. By 1960, Harold's brother
Don had joined the group as their lead vocalist.
In 1963, they joined the
Johnny Cash
road-show as
The Statler Brothers, which led to a recording
contract with Columbia Records under their own name
& as backing vocalists for
Johnny Cash. They selected their name off a
box of facial tissues, which were manufactured in
Massachusetts.
The Statler Brothers enjoyed their first hit with
'Flowers on the wall' in 1966, when the song went to
No.2 on the country charts & No.4 on the Hot 100
(pop music charts).
The Statler Brothers provided backing vocals on
Johnny Cash's song 'Daddy sang bass', which stayed at No.1 on the
Billboard country music singles chart for 6 weeks in
January/February 1969.
The Statler Brothers signed with Mercury Records in
1970 & recorded their first session with producer
Jerry Kennedy in September of that year. Their
tally of hit recordings included 'Do you remember
these' (No.2 in 1972), 'I'll go to my grave loving
you' (No.3 in 1975) & 'Do you know you are my
sunshine' (No.1 for 2 weeks in May/June 1978).
 Jimmy
Fortune joined The Statler Brothers in June 1982. He replaced Lew
DeWitt who was suffering from Crohn's Disease. (Lew succumbed to the
disease on 15 August 1990).
Jimmy proved himself to be an invaluable addition to the group, as both a tenor
singer & songwriter. He provided The Statler Brothers with three No.1
country hits on Billboard; 'Elizabeth' (No.1 for 1 week in March 1984), 'My
only
love' (No.1 for 1 week in March 1985) & 'Too much on my heart' (No.1 for 1 week
in November/December 1985).
The Statler Brothers retired from recording & touring in 2001.
 Gene
Watson recorded
The Statler Brothers' composition 'Her
heart or mine' (co-written by Harold & Don Reid) & included the track on his
'Honky Tonk Crazy' album, which he recorded for Epic
Records in 1987.
 The Statler Brothers' version of 'Her
heart or mine' was included on their 'Pardners
in Rhyme' album, which was released on Mercury Records in 1985.
Visit The Statler
Brothers Official Website
Gene Watson's Peers...
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2004 | 2005
| 2006 | 2007 |
2008
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