In 1963, amidst Johnny Cash’s success with “Ring of Fire,” he crossed paths with four young men at the Roanoke Fair in Virginia. Their impeccable vocals caught his attention, and with a simple handshake, Cash hired them to tour with him for nearly a decade, inspiring the Statler Brothers’ song “We Got Paid by Cash.”

The Statler Brothers, a name that came from an unexpected source, weren’t always known by that moniker. When the Oregon-based Kingsmen rose to fame with “Louie Louie,” Don and Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, and Lew DeWitt had to reconsider their own group’s name. While brainstorming in a hotel room, Don’s eyes landed on a box of Statler tissues, and the name stuck.

“We could have been the Kleenex Brothers,” Don joked.

That same year, the newly named Statler Brothers performed at the Roanoke Fair in Salem, Virginia, where they captured the attention of Johnny Cash. Cash, impressed by their sound—a mix of country and gospel—hired them on the spot.

A Decade with Johnny Cash

During their decade-long collaboration with Cash, the Statler Brothers honed their craft and established themselves in the music world. Touring, recording, and making TV appearances alongside the “Man in Black,” they rose to prominence.

Don Reid once said:

“John was a walkin’, talkin’, singin’ musical encyclopedia.”

In 1965, their crossover hit “Flowers on the Wall” topped both country and pop charts, even beating out legendary acts like The Beatles and The Supremes. The song won them two Grammy Awards: Best New Country and Western Artist and Best Contemporary Performance (Group).

Nearly three decades later, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction reintroduced “Flowers on the Wall” to a new generation. In one memorable scene, the song plays on the radio while Bruce Willis’s character drives, moments before a dramatic encounter with Samuel L. Jackson’s character. This inclusion helped the soundtrack sell over a million copies.

Harold Reid reflected on this moment, saying:

“Very few people have Bruce Willis help them.”

Learning from the Best

The Statler Brothers owe much of their success to Cash. As Don Reid put it:

“Being with him for those years was our education in the music business. We learned what to do, what not to do, and we left on the best of terms.”

Their collaboration with Cash helped shape their career, which spanned over 12 years, 40 albums, and numerous accolades, including nine Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year awards.

A Lasting Legacy

From 1971 to 1988, the Statler Brothers had their own variety show on The Nashville Network (TNN). By 1992, their show became the highest-rated program on the network, thanks in part to Harold Reid’s comedic talents.

One of their most memorable performances was the deeply emotional song, “More Than a Name on the Wall.” Written by Jimmy Fortune, who replaced Lew DeWitt after he retired due to illness, the song is a tribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It tells the story of a grieving mother visiting the wall, where her son’s name is engraved among the 58,381 soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

In an interview with Strictly Country, Fortune shared his inspiration for the song:

“You look at those names… and they seem like they go on forever. I realized that each one of those was someone’s child, someone’s husband. It hit me that they are more than a name on a wall.”

Fortune also penned “Elizabeth,” another one of the group’s iconic songs, adding to their impressive catalog.

Saying Goodbye to a Legend

In April 2020, Harold Reid passed away after a long battle with kidney failure. His humor, voice, and contributions to the Statler Brothers will forever be remembered by fans and the music industry alike.

What are your favorite memories of the Statler Brothers? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and spread the story so others can reminisce as well!

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to check out our piece on Johnny Cash’s son and the memories he shared of his legendary father.