[1], (with Wayne Warner and the Nashville All-Star Choir), "Statlers' Jimmy Fortune talks 'Hits & Hymns' with PD critic (and former classmate)", "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums", "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200", "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Christian Albums", "Jimmy Fortune "Sings the Classics" on New Album, Including "Unchained Melody," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Wake Up Little Susie" & More", "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: April 30, 2018", "Top 10 Country Albums: Pure Sales Chart for October 7, 2019", The Official Historian on Shirley Jean Berrell, You'll Be Back (Every Night in My Dreams), Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Fortune&oldid=1002738182, Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 January 2021, at 21:01. "People ask me all the time, 'How in the world do you get through it?' "Singing, to me, is a prayer from the soul. The Statler Brothers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search The Statler Brothers Origin Staunton, Virginia, U.S. Fortune joined the ensemble in 1982 and immediately began contributing hit songs. He has continued as a songwriter and has recorded a number of projects in Nashville that he mostly produced himself. The group was previously called The Kingsmen. In 2015 he released Hits & Hymns produced by Ben Isaacs. Fortune started performing with the Statler Brothers in 1982, and joined the group permanently later in the year when DeWitt was unable to return to the stage.[2]. However, in 1982, DeWitt was forced to leave the band due to Crohn’s disease; the illness killed him on August 15, 1990. I was with a group called The Statler Brothers for … 1 with his “Elizabeth,” a tribute to actress Elizabeth Taylor. Lew was very proud of Jimmy. Fortune is credited with writing some of the band's most famous songs. While Lew was on a six-month leave of absence from the Statlers that started in November 1981, we went to Salem, Virginia, and sat in the audience to watch the group. At first he was only supposed to serve as a temporary replacement for singer, Lew DeWitt. We made a lot of great memories together. There were few dry eyes as he sang "More Than a Name on a Wall," which is about a grieving mother visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. They were inducted […] Jimmy Fortune, former tenor with much-loved country hitmakers the Statler Brothers, has signed with Ovation Artist Group for exclusive booking representation. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally and, from 1964-72, they sang as opening act and backup singers for Johnny Cash. Jimmy Fortune is an American country singer known as a member of the famous musical group, The Statler Brothers. "It's really tough, because of what it says. I'm pretty sure we're going to do another album of my favorite songs, so I'll have a chance to do more later on.". Born in Williamsburg, singer Jimmy Fortune moved to Nashville, Tennessee, after the Statler Brothers, a group he'd performed with, retired in 2002. He wanted to continue writing songs and performing, but after being with the popular group for 21 years, he didn't know quite how to start over as a solo act. Harold Reid’s bandmate Jimmy Fortune said in a Facebook post: “Our hearts are broken tonight. When people come to this benefit show, they're letting these kids know that there is a place for them, and they're helping them along the way.". 1 hit. When the Statler Brothers retired in 2002, Fortune found himself at a major crossroad in his life. Although fame, awards and accolades have been showered on Jimmy Fortune during his singing career, he hasn't forgotten his way back home. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Fortune immediately earned the group its second No. He started by talking about "More Than a Name on a Wall," which he and Charlottesville native John Rimel wrote. Statler Brothers Singer Harold Reid Dead at 80 Vocalist provided the baritone bottom end to the group’s hits like “Flowers on the Wall” and “Bed of Rose’s” He spent 21 years touring, singing, and performing with the Statler Brothers. All proceeds will benefit music programs at his alma mater. "I can plug back into the people I grew up with and a flood of memories always come back to me. Named after a brand of tissues, the four members of the Statler Brothers did not in fact share a fraternal bond; what they did share, however, was the distinction of being one of the most successful vocal harmony groups in the history of country music. But I continue to sing the song, because I think it's important to let people know that what the Vietnam War veterans did for us was a sacrifice that will not go unthanked.". Fortune sang tenor for The Statler Brothers for 21 years, and wrote the song "Elizabeth" for the group. 1 on the Billboard Music Video chart. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Jimmy Fortune returns home to help raise funds for his alma mater, Former Virginia Tech soccer player sues coach, claiming she was forced off team for refusing to kneel before games, Medical student sues UVa after being expelled following public talk on microaggressions, Crozet committee members feel 'insulted' after Board of Supervisors meeting, Wilderness Crossing: 2,602-acre mixed use development proposed in eastern Orange County, Official: 1 dead after section of old Bonner Bridge collapses on Outer Banks, City Council repeals city COVID ordinance; area vaccination rates among highest in state, Maurice Jones' phone uncovered, complicating Kessler FOIA lawsuit, Princes William, Harry won't walk side-by-side at funeral; full guest list released, Housing project at Red Carpet Inn site gets major financial boost. "After high school, I lived in Charlottesville until the Statler Brothers called me, and then I moved to Staunton. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Following an audition in Nashville, Jimmy was contacted by the Statler Brothers and performed his first show with them on January 28, 1982, in Sava nnah, Georgia. ', "Then it was as if God asked me, 'What got you here in the first place? Entering the business in 1964 as the backup voices for Johnny Cash on stage, record and TV, they served their apprenticeship with him for 8 1/2 years. The group had retired in 2002 after being together in various configurations since 1955. A post on the group's website said that Reid "had bravely endured a long battle with kidney failure." Jimmy Fortune went on to further his musical career as a solo artist. Please subscribe to keep reading. “This student asked a series of questions that were quite antagonistic toward the panel. On April 21, he'll release "Jimmy Fortune Sings the Classics. The Story Behind The Song: “Elizabeth” (written by Jimmy Fortune) The Statler Brothers (#1, 1984) Almost every movie fan is familiar with the name Elizabeth Taylor, one of the world’s most popular actresses and star of some of Hollywood’s most-revered, classic films. Former City Manager Maurice Jones' cellphone, previously thought to have been wiped and reused, has been found by the city and may contain documents responsive to a Freedom of Information Act request. I lived in Staunton for 21 years until the Statler Brothers retired and I moved to Nashville to continue my singing career. The 20-year gig landed him in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Hall of Fame. He pressed on and stated one faculty member was being contradictory. ", 7 p.m. Saturday Nelson County High School; 6919 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston $17 adv, $22 dos sbelcher@nelson.k12.va.us; (434) 263-8317, "I teamed up again with Bill Gaither for the new album, which are songs that have affected my life," Fortune said. The Statler Brothers charted 66 singles on the Billboard country airplay chart between 1965 and 1990. Jimmy Fortune Statler Brothers . By Billboard ... when the Statler Brothers played their last concert performance in the 10,000-seat Salem Civic Center ... Jimmy Fortune… Jimmy Fortune was a singer in "The Statler Brothers" for 21 years. It's being able to communicate what others may feel, but not be able to describe.". Lew DeWitt, the tenor and guitarist of the Statler Brothers country-music group for 20 years, died on Wednesday at his home in Waynesboro, Va. His … The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. [2] The album reached Top Ten on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and the DVD release of a TV special, "Jimmy Fortune: Hits & Hymns," hosted by Bill Gaither, debuted at No. Showtime is their first completely new collection of songs since the 1995 sold-on-TV album, The Statler Brothers Sing the Classics. "It puts a smile on my face to be able to come back home and help my high school. Biography. Former Statler Brother's tenor Lew DeWitt recruited Fortune as his replacement. A veteran singer and guitarist who has become one of the mainstays of country music, Jimmy Fortune spent more than two decades as a member of the vocal group the Statler Brothers before moving on to a solo career. My brother Harold Reid passed away at home with his family. He is also an accomplished songwriter and has written many of the band's hit tracks. The Piedmont Housing Alliance received the $4.25 million grant — the largest in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s history — to purchase the now-former motel property on U.S. 29 in Albemarle County. Did you see Lew’s hand-picked successor Jimmy Fortune in concert with the Statlers? However, he permanently joined the band when DeWitt was not able to … The Statler Brothers Leave The Road. "I heard it while listening to the radio in my dad's 1956 Plymouth. Fortune grew up in Nelson County, Virginia, where he attended Nelson County High School in Lovingston, Virginia. Jimmy Fortune joined the remaining Statlers as DeWitt’s successor. Ex-Statler Brothers tenor Lew DeWitt, who quit the perennially-popular group three years ago because of a rare and painful illness, also considered quitting life as well. Songs, including Elizabeth , Too Much On My Heart, and My … Other tunes include “Guilty,” originally a Top 10 hit for the Statlers in 1983 and now revisited with former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune on vocals. Later, after the other band with the same name got popular, they elected themselves as The Statler Brothers. When DeWitt was suffering from Crohn's disease and needed a temporary replacement, he asked Fortune to come to audition for the band in Nashville. "I had a 100 songs I could have done for the new album, but I had to pick 14 this time. “That’s why we did this one,” Don says. Fortune was born in Williamsburg in 1955. Fortune was born on March 11, 1955, in Staunton, Virginia, USA. "Songs like, 'Make the World Go Away,' 'Wake Up Little Susie,' 'Yesterday' and 'Take Me Home, Country Roads.'. Our prayers and our thoughts are with [Harold Reid’s wife] Brenda and his children and grandchildren and with my other brothers, Don and Phil. "Elizabeth" recently was a top bluegrass release for Dailey & Vincent. So, I let my voice and my songs pave the way for me to be where I am today. Mr. DeWitt, who died in 1990, left the quartet in 1983 because of chronic health problems and was replaced by Jimmy Fortune. You have permission to edit this article. "When I was growing up, we lived in the Lovingston and Rockfish areas. "The students will put on a little show to show off their talent before I come out. The 1995 formed boy band consisted of five members during its formation; Phil Balsley, Don Reid, Harold Reid, Lew DeWitt, and Jimmy Fortune. He grew up in Staunton, Virginia in a musical family. Harold Reid, the bass singer in the long-running country vocal quartet the Statler Brothers, died Friday night at age 80. "Coming back to my roots is like an IV into my heart," Fortune said. I have been doing this for a long time. Buckingham Palace has released the broad outlines of Saturday's funeral program for Prince Philip, including plans for princes William and Harry. Born in Williamsburg, singer Jimmy Fortune moved to Nashville, Tennessee, after the Statler Brothers, a group he'd performed with, retired in 2002. The Statler Brothers, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune, and Don Reid, retired October 22, 2002; Harold, Phil, Jimmy and Don attend special exhibit ceremonies; The Statler Brothers were honored at an Album Release Party by Dailey and Vincent; The Gospel Music of the Statler Brothers; Wilson Fairchild is the new name you’ll be hearing I tell folks to come to the show just to see the looks on these kids' faces when they perform. The Statlers Brothers, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune and Don Reid, were the premier group in country music for nearly forty years.