A MEMORY WITH THE STATLER BROTHERS — A NIGHT IN 1982 THAT STILL SINGS
There are concerts you enjoy, and there are concerts you carry with you for the rest of your life. For me, one of those unforgettable nights happened on January 31, 1982, at the Salisbury Civic Center in Maryland, when I was blessed to witness The Statler Brothers at the height of their harmony and humor.
The Statlers had already established themselves as one of country music’s greatest treasures. Their voices — Don Reid, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, and Jimmy Fortune — blended in a way that no other group could replicate. They had a gift for combining laughter and storytelling with songs that spoke to both faith and everyday life. That night in Salisbury, I experienced it all in one sweeping performance.
From the moment they stepped onto the stage, the audience knew they were in for something rare. The Statlers didn’t just perform songs; they created an atmosphere. Laughter rippled through the crowd as Harold cracked jokes with his signature dry wit, and then, in an instant, the room would fall silent as they delivered a ballad that seemed to reach straight into your soul. It was this balance — humor, harmony, and heart — that made them so beloved, and on that night, it was all on display.
I remember the joy of hearing classics like “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” and “Elizabeth,” the crowd singing along as if they were part of the chorus. There was a sense of community in the room, the kind of connection only The Statler Brothers could create. Their music had always carried a warmth that felt like family, and in Salisbury, that warmth wrapped itself around every person in the audience.
But what made the night truly unforgettable came after the show. I was given the rare chance to meet the Statlers backstage. For so many fans, the fear is that meeting an idol might reveal someone different from the person you imagine. But with The Statler Brothers, the opposite was true. They were every bit as kind, gracious, and genuine as their songs had always made you feel.
Don Reid shook my hand with a storyteller’s smile, asking about my favorite song. Harold Reid, tall and full of humor, offered a laugh that eased every bit of nervousness I carried. Phil Balsley was soft-spoken, with a gentleness that matched his harmonies, and Jimmy Fortune, then still the newest member, carried himself with humility and warmth. In just a few moments, they turned a concert into a personal memory — one I’ve held onto for more than forty years.
Looking back now, that night was not just another date on a tour. It was a reminder of what made The Statler Brothers so special. They weren’t simply performers on a stage. They were real men, grounded in faith, friendship, and gratitude, who gave their audiences more than music. They gave us memories.
For me, January 31, 1982, was not only a concert. It was a memory for life — a moment when harmony, humor, and heart met me where I stood and gave me a story I’ll never stop telling. And whenever I hear their songs today, I’m carried back to that night in Salisbury, where The Statler Brothers sang not just for a crowd, but for me.