HEARTFELT RECOLLECTION: Just Now in Staunton, Virginia — Jimmy Fortune Opened Up About His Time With The Statler Brothers, Sharing Memories That Left Fans Deeply Moved
The small town of Staunton, Virginia, where the legacy of The Statler Brothers first took root, fell into a reverent hush this evening as Jimmy Fortune stepped onto the stage to share what many called one of the most emotional reflections of his career. With eyes glistening and his voice carrying the weight of decades, he spoke not as a performer, but as a man remembering his family — the brothers he sang beside, laughed with, and loved deeply.
He began quietly, his words soaked in memory. “Those weren’t just songs,” he said, pausing as the audience leaned in. “They were our lives.” From the tender harmonies of “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” to the timeless grace of “Elizabeth”, every melody carried a piece of their journey — from humble gospel beginnings to their final bow in 2002.
Jimmy spoke of Harold Reid’s laughter, the kind that could lift a room even in the hardest times; of Don Reid’s words, always steady and thoughtful; of Phil Balsley’s quiet wisdom, anchoring them through decades of touring and fame. He remembered nights on the bus when the world outside was cold and dark, but inside, there was warmth — stories, prayer, and four voices that found a way to become one.
“The road wasn’t always easy,” he admitted, “but it was ours. We didn’t just sing together — we lived those songs. Every lyric, every note was drawn from something we’d walked through, something we believed in.”
As he spoke, fans could feel that sense of belonging, of something once whole now existing only in memory. He recalled the band’s final rehearsal — the silence that followed their last chord, the unspoken understanding that this was the end of an extraordinary era. “Harold looked at us,” Jimmy said softly, “and just smiled. He didn’t have to say a word. We all knew what that meant. Gratitude. Completion. Love.”
When he mentioned that moment, several in the audience wiped their eyes. Many of them had grown up with The Statler Brothers — their music serving as a soundtrack to weddings, long drives, Sunday mornings, and moments of quiet reflection. To hear these stories, told in Jimmy’s trembling voice, was like being invited into the private chapters of their shared history.
He closed the evening by performing “More Than a Name on a Wall,” dedicating it to his fallen brothers and to the fans who have kept their songs alive through generations. The audience rose to their feet, singing the final chorus with him, their voices mingling with his in a harmony that transcended time.
As the lights dimmed, Jimmy looked upward and whispered, “I hope they’re listening.” In that sacred silence, it felt as if they were.
Tonight in Staunton wasn’t just another performance — it was a homecoming of the heart, a reminder that even though The Statler Brothers are no longer standing together on stage, their spirit still echoes — strong, pure, and eternal — in every note that Jimmy Fortune continues to sing.