The Statler Brothers’ Founding Member, Harold Reid, Has Died

The Statler Brothers’ bass singer Harold Reid died on Friday (April 24) in Staunton, VA., following a long battle with kidney failure. He was 80 years old.

“He is and will always be loved by his family, friends and millions of fans. His singing, his songwriting and his comedy made generations happy. He has taken a piece of our hearts with him,” a statement on the band’s website reads.

Additionally, Reid’s nephew, Debo Reid, shared “He leaves a large and loving family and millions of fans who remember his stage and TV antics with smiles and cherish his music that will live with the ages.”

The quartet began their career in gospel music before crossing over to country after meeting country music legend Johnny Cash in 1964 and joining his roadshow. Thirteen of the group’s fifty albums went gold and eight went platinum. Throughout their career, the group earned three Grammy awards as well as nine Country Music Association Awards for Vocal Group of the Year and two ACM awards in the same category.

Some of their biggest hits include 1965’s “Flowers on the Wall” and 1970′s “Bed of Roses.”

The Statler Brothers even had success with their hit cable television show in the 1990s on The Nashville Network (TNN). During the seven seasons of The Statler Brothers Show, it was named the top-rated program.

The band retired from touring in 2002 and was later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 2015.

Harold Reid was born on August 21, 1939 in Augusta Country, Virginia and was a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He was also a comedian.

Our hearts and prayers go out the Reid family at this time.