UNBELIEVABLE: Don Reid Finally Opens Up About the Night That Changed the Statler Brothers Forever
It’s been decades since The Statler Brothers first took the stage as one of country music’s most beloved vocal groups, but some stories have remained quietly tucked away — until now. In a rare and deeply emotional interview, Don Reid, the band’s frontman and chief storyteller, finally opened up about the night that would forever alter the course of their legendary career: the moment they decided to replace Lew DeWitt with Jimmy Fortune.
For longtime fans, the Statlers were more than just a harmony quartet — they were family. Each member carried a voice that felt both familiar and sacred. Lew DeWitt, the group’s tenor and founding member, possessed one of the most angelic voices in country music. His performances on classics like “Flowers on the Wall” and “Bed of Roses” defined an era. But behind the smiles and the harmonies, Lew was quietly battling Crohn’s disease, a struggle that grew more painful as the years went on.
Don Reid recalled the heartbreaking realization that the band was facing the unimaginable. “We could see Lew was hurting,” he said softly. “He’d smile through it, joke with us, but there were nights I’d look over and see the pain in his eyes. We all knew something had to change — even if none of us wanted to admit it.”
The decision came one quiet evening in 1982, after a show that nearly didn’t happen. Lew’s health had worsened, and his ability to tour was slipping away. The band gathered backstage, surrounded by instruments and memories that suddenly felt fragile. “We sat there in silence,” Don remembered. “It wasn’t about business or music. It was about friendship. We didn’t want to lose him, but we also didn’t want to watch him suffer.”
Then came the moment that still moves fans to this day — when a young Virginia-born singer named Jimmy Fortune stepped in to audition. “Jimmy didn’t just sing the notes,” Don said. “He carried the heart. There was something about his voice — pure, hopeful, and humble. When he sang ‘Elizabeth’ for the first time, I knew we weren’t replacing Lew. We were continuing his spirit.”
That night marked a turning point in Statler Brothers history. With Jimmy joining Don, Harold Reid, and Phil Balsley, the group entered a new era filled with both success and reflection. Songs like “Too Much on My Heart”, “My Only Love”, and “More Than a Name on a Wall” became modern classics — each infused with the same sincerity and soul that Lew had helped shape from the beginning.
But even now, Don admits the decision never came easy. “There’s no such thing as replacing a brother,” he said. “Lew was part of our hearts. Jimmy didn’t take his place — he carried his torch.”
In the interview, Don’s voice cracked when he spoke of seeing both men’s legacies intertwine. “When I hear Jimmy sing one of Lew’s songs, I still feel him with us. I think Lew would’ve been proud — not because Jimmy sounded like him, but because he sang with the same love.”
For Statler Brothers fans, this revelation hit deep. Online forums flooded with memories, gratitude, and tears. Many called Don’s reflection “the closure we never knew we needed.” Others simply said it reminded them why the group’s music still feels like home.
And perhaps that’s the truest part of this story. In the end, it wasn’t about who came before or after — it was about the bond that held them all together. Through faith, loyalty, and the unbreakable thread of harmony, Don Reid, Lew DeWitt, and Jimmy Fortune ensured that the Statler Brothers’ story would never fade.
Because sometimes, the most powerful songs aren’t sung — they’re remembered.