Bass singer, songwriter and humorist Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers died Friday (April 24) at age 80 of kidney failure.

Reid and the other members of his quartet were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. The Statler Brothers were the CMA Vocal Group of the Year every year from 1972 to 1977, then again in 1979, 1980 and 1984. The act hosted its own TNN cable TV series in 1991-98. It was the network’s top-rated program.

Don Reid was the group’s chief songwriter, but his brother Harold collaborated with him on a number of the act’s biggest hits of the 1970s, including “Do You Remember These” (1972), the Grammy Award-winning “Class of ‘57” (1972), “Carry Me Back” (1973), “Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott” (1973), “Some I Wrote” (1978), “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” (1978), “The Official Historian on Shirley Jean Burrell” (1978) and “How to Be a Country Star” (1979).
In the 1980s, the brothers also co-wrote the top hits “Better Than I Did Then” (1980), “Don’t Wait on Me” (1981), “Whatever” (1982), “Guilty” (1983), “Sweeter and Sweeter” (1986) and “Let’s Get Started If We’re Gonna Break My Heart” (1988). On his own, Harold Reid contributed 1970’s “Bed of Rose’s” to the group’s hit repertoire.

Harold Reid was also the foundation of the Statlers’ comedic alter ego, Roadhog Moran & The Cadillac Cowboys. He was the parody act’s leader, Lester “Roadhog” Moran.

Bass harmony vocalist Reid founded The Four-Star Quartet in 1948. The gospel act also performed as The Kingsmen. After Harold’s lead singing younger brother Don Reid joined, the quartet became known as The Statler Brothers in 1955. In addition to the Reids, the founding members were baritone Phil Balsley and tenor Lew DeWitt (1938-1990). When DeWitt’s health failed, Jimmy Fortune replaced him in the Statlers in 1983.

Based in Virginia, the group took its name from a box of Statler facial tissues. After working on the gospel-quartet circuit, the group was discovered by Johnny Cash. He made the Statlers part of his roadshow in 1964-71. They were also featured on Cash’s national television series in 1969-71.

DeWitt’s “Flowers on the Wall” launched the act’s string of hits in 1965. The record crossed over to the pop hit parade and earned the group its first Grammy Award.

A switch from Columbia Records to the Mercury label coincided with an explosion of popularity for The Statler Brothers. The group recorded more than 50 albums, garnering 13 Gold Records and eight Platinum ones. In addition to its nine CMA trophies, the quartet collected 48 Music City News Awards.

During its 1965-90 heyday as hit makers, The Statlers placed 66 titles on the country charts. Of these, 33 became top-10 hits. The act was a mainstay on the country concert circuit for decades. The Statlers toured for several years with Brenda Lee. Among the quartet’s opening acts who later became superstars were Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks.

The Statler Brothers remained in Staunton, VA throughout their career. Beginning in 1970, the act staged annual July 4th celebrations in Staunton. These “Happy Birthday U.S.A.” events lasted for 25 years and eventually attracted crowds approaching 100,000.

A huge fireworks display always capped the festivities. These fountains of explosion were launched near Harold Reid’s home, Boxley Farm. The city of Staunton dedicated a monument to the group in 2002.

That was the year that The Statler Brothers announced their retirement and went on a farewell tour. Balsley and the Reid brothers remained in Staunton. Fortune relocated to Nashville and launched a solo career.

The Statler Brothers were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Don and Harold Reid co-authored a history of the group titled Random Memories, published in 2008.

The bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent often perform Statler Brothers songs in their shows and have long cited the quartet as an influence. Harold’s son Wil and Don’s son Langdon perform as Wilson Fairchild and have recorded the tribute tune “The Statler Brothers Song.” (They were previously billed as Grandstaff). Harold’s daughters Kim and Karmen have also performed as a country duo.

Kyle Young, CEO for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, stated, “Harold Reid was a driving force in one of country music’s greatest quartets, the Statler Brothers. He helped steer the group to stupendous successes, and his stirring bass was the underpinning of dozens of classic hits. He was also a tremendous entertainer, and one of the world’s funniest people. For decades, he made us laugh and made us cry. As his alter ego, Lester ‘Roadhog’ Moran, would say, his contributions were ‘mighty fine.’ We mourn his loss while we celebrate a life well-lived.”

Funeral arrangements for Reid have not been announced.

Singer/songwriter Gary McSpadden, whose music career includes time performing as part of vocal groups including The Statesmen Quartet, Oak Ridge Boys, Imperials, Bill Gaither Trio and Gaither Vocal Band, died April 15 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 77.

The son of Boyd and Helen McSpadden, he grew up in Lubbock, Texas. In the early 1960s, McSpadden filled in for singer Jake Hess while Hess was on medical leave from gospel group The Statesmen Quartet. McSpadden later joined The Oak Ridge Quartet, around the time the group changed its name to The Oak Ridge Boys; McSpadden recorded three albums with the group.

During the mid-1960s, after Hess left The Statesmen, McSpadden joined Hess as part of his new group, The Imperials, and recorded a dozen albums with the group.

In 1977, McSpadden replaced Danny Gaither as part of The Bill Gaither Trio; by 1981, he was among the first members of The Gaither Vocal Band. McSpadden released his debut solo album in 1965 and went on to release 20 solo projects during his career.

As a songwriter, McSpadden penned songs including “Jesus Lord To Me,” “Hallelujah Praise The Lamb” and “No Other Name But Jesus.” He produced television series such as the Jubilee series, which was filmed in Branson, Missouri. He also produced and appeared in several music concerts in Branson in the 1990s and 2000s.

McSpadden and his wife Carol led Faith & Wisdom Church in Branson, Missouri. Carol wrote the following message on the church’s Facebook page:

As most of you know Gary and I have been in Tulsa at the Cancer Treatment Center of America. Gary has been battling cancer along with other complications over the last several weeks. This has been a quick and difficult journey we have been on. We knew this week that God had a plan and his healing would be here on earth or in heaven. As of 8:40 AM Pastor passed peacefully surrounded by his family into the arms of God.
2 Timothy 4:7 says I have fought a good fight I have finished my course and I have kept the faith. Pastor Gary fought hard, finished the race and was an unbelievable man of faith. I would like to thank all the Faith and Wisdom church family and all the many friends who have prayed with us during this time. Due to extenuating circumstances with Covid 19 we are working on plans for a celebration of life at a later date. We will be communicating those plans as they develop.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member John Prine passed away on Tuesday, April 7 at age 73, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center due to complications from COVID-19, a spokesperson for the Prine family has confirmed to MusicRow.com.

Following a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, he was hospitalized on Thursday, March 26. On Saturday, he was placed on a ventilator and listed in critical condition. His wife/manager, Fiona Whelan Prine, was diagnosed earlier and had quarantined herself from her husband since he was at risk. John Prine was a two-time cancer survivor and had other health issues weakening his immune system.

Prine was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. He wrote or co-wrote such hits as Don Williams’ “Love Is on a Roll,” Bonnie Raitt’s “Angel From Montgomery,” Lynn Anderson’s “Paradise” and George Strait’s “I Just Want to Dance with You.” But his true importance is measured by his influence on other artists and their universally held respect for him.

During a five-decade, 25-album career, the singer-songwriter amassed a devoted cult following. Two of his albums won Grammy Awards. The Americana Music Association named him an Artist of the Year in 2005 and 2017. BMI gave him its Troubadour Award in 2018. He was a pioneer in self-marketing music via his own label.

John Prine was born Oct. 10, 1946 in Maywood, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He wrote his first songs at age 14. Prine worked as a mailman in the Windy City throughout the 1960s. In 1970, he performed at an open-mic night at the Chicago folk club The Fifth Peg.

Singer-songwriter Steve Goodman (1948-1984) saw him and became Prine’s champion. He brought Kris Kristofferson to a Prine show at The Earl of Old Town in the summer of 1971. Also in the audience were pop star Paul Anka and actress Angela Lansbury.

At The Bitter End in New York, new fan Kristofferson introduced Prine’s music to Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler (1917-2008). Wexler signed Prine the next day.

John Prine appeared as the troubadour’s debut LP in 1971. He would perform many of its songs for the rest of his life. They included the chilling army-veteran portrait “Sam Stone,” the wry “Illegal Smile” and the “blow up your TV” song “Spanish Pipe Dream.” Bette Midler popularized its old-folks ode “Hello in There.”

Raitt made “Angel From Montgomery” her own, although John Denver, Carly Simon, Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show and others have recorded it.

“Paradise” was the collection’s most popular song. It has been recorded by The Everly Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and dozens of bluegrass bands. In 1975, Lynn Anderson made it a mid-sized country hit. The John Prine album was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.

He followed it with 1972’s spare, folk-flavored Diamonds in the Rough. Its “Souvenirs” was sung by Goodman, The Country Gentlemen and Maggie Bell, among others. “The Late John Garfield Blues” was recorded by his benefactor Kristofferson. John Prine was nominated as 1972’s Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards.

Sweet Revenge appeared in 1973. This included such perennial Prine favorites as “Please Don’t Bury Me,” “Christmas in Prison” and “Dear Abby.” Its “Grandpa Was a Carpenter” was recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Lonesome Standard Time.

In 1975, David Allan Coe had a hit with “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” Prine co-wrote it with Goodman, but refused to take any credit so that his leukemia stricken pal could earn more royalties.

Steve Cropper produced 1975’s Common Sense. Joining Prine on the record were J.D. Souther, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, Goodman and Raitt. He closed out his Atlantic tenure with Prime Prine, a best-of collection. That 1976 LP is now the artist’s only Gold Record.

He embarked on a rigorous touring schedule, building up a loyal fan base by staying on the road for up to nine months of the year. He also began spending time in Nashville with Jack Clement (1931-2013).

His recording contract was picked up by Asylum. He made his debut on the label with 1978’s folk-rock collection Bruised Orange. Produced by Goodman, it included “That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round,” later cut by Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones and Green on Red.

Pink Cadillac (1979) was Prine’s Memphis rockabilly album. Storm Windows (1980) was recorded in Muscle Shoals. John Prine moved to Nashville in 1980. Fed up with major labels, he formed his own Oh Boy Records with manager Al Bunetta (1943-2015). His debut for it was a 1982 holiday single, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

In 1983, country superstar Don Williams gave Prine his first No. 1 hit, “Love Is on a Roll.” The songwriter co-wrote it with Nashville tunesmith Roger Cook. “Jackie O” was a collaboration with John Mellencamp on the rock star’s 1983 Platinum album Uh-Huh.

Prine’s first Oh Boy LP was 1984’s Aimless Love, primarily recorded at Clement’s studio in Nashville by co-producer Jim Rooney. Its song “Unwed Fathers,” co-written with Bobby Braddock, was popularized by Tammy Wynette, Gail Davies and Johnny Cash.

Steve Goodman died in 1984, just as his “City of New Orleans” was becoming a standard. Prine sang Goodman’s songs in concert throughout the rest of his own life.

The Grammy-nominated German Afternoons (1986) repeated the Aimless Love studio recipe and included two more Prine evergreens. “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” was sung by Nanci Griffith, Kim Carnes, Amos Lee and Gove. “I Just Want to Dance with You,” co-written with Cook, became a 1998 No. 1 hit for George Strait.

A long hiatus followed German Afternoons, interrupted only by his single “Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian” (1987) and a live CD (1988).

For his return, Prine teamed up with Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers on 1991’s The Missing Years. Its cast included Bruce Springsteen, Phil Everly, David Lindley, Petty, Raitt and producer Howie Epstein (1955-2003). The album earned John Prine his first Grammy Award. Its song “All the Best” was covered by the Zac Brown Band in 2017.

Rhino Records saluted him with a 1993 boxed set titled Great Days: The John Prine Anthology. Epstein re-teamed with the songwriter for 1995’s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings.

In Spite of Ourselves (1999) was an acclaimed album of country classics recorded in Nashville as duets with Trisha Yearwood, Connie Smith, Melba Montgomery, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and other female artists. The CD’s title tune was sung with Iris DeMent. It was included on the soundtrack of Daddy & Them (2001), a film which featured Prine on screen alongside Billy Bob Thornton.

He re-recorded many of his early favorites for Souvenirs (2000) so that Oh Boy would have its own versions. In addition to Prine and Goodman, the company also issued works by Kristofferson, Todd Snider, Donnie Fritts, Shawn Camp and more.

John Prine was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. The following year, he contributed his rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” to Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster. The collection won a folk Grammy Award.

Fair & Square (2005) earned Prine his own Grammy, his second. The CDs cast included Camp, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Mindy Smith, Pat McLaughlin and Dan Tyminski, among others.

On 2007’s Standard Songs for Average People, he sang vintage tunes with Mac Wiseman (1925-2019). Oh Boy issued a multi-artist tribute CD to Prine in 2010. The Singing Mailman Delivers (2011) contained performances taped in 1970 prior to his commercial debut.

For Better Or Worse (2016) was a sequel to In Spite of Ourselves, this time pairing Prine with Lee Ann Womack, Kathy Mattea, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Krauss and more.

In 2018, John Prine released his first new collection of original material in 13 years. Titled The Tree of Forgiveness, it became his highest-charting Billboard album, was nominated for three Grammys and spawned eight promotional videos.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Singer, entertainer, actor and hit Nashville songwriter Alex Harvey has died at age 73.

Harvey is known for such classics as “Delta Dawn,” “Rings,” “Hell and High Water” and “Reuben James.” He was featured in such TV series as Dallas, The Dukes of Hazzard and Walker, Texas Ranger, as well as such movies as The Blue and the Gray, The Dollmaker, Parent Trap II and Country.

During a five-decade career, he recorded a dozen albums. He was a colorful showman whose nightclub appearances garnered rave reviews.

Thomas Alexander Harvey was born in Dyersburg, TN. He attended Murray State University in Kentucky, earning a master’s degree in music with a minor in drama. Following graduation, he headed to Nashville. Harvey initially supported himself by transcribing songwriters’ works into sheet-music form.

Songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler (“Jackson,” “Coward of the County”) became his mentor. Harvey also learned from Kris Kristofferson, who was one of the songwriters he transcribed.

When Kenny Rogers came to town to tape a TV show, Harvey deployed his charm and salesmanship to pitch the star “Reuben James.” Rogers and The First Edition made it into a Top 30 pop hit in 1969. Conway Twitty, Wanda Jackson and Jerry Lee Lewis were among those who later recorded Harvey’s lyric of racial harmony.

Alex Harvey earned his first country music credits for “Molly,” recorded by Jim Glaser in 1969 and for “Baby, Baby I Know You’re a Lady,” a No. 1 hit for David Houston in 1970. Dusty Springfield recorded Harvey’s “Someone Who Cares” that same year. It became the theme song for the Jason Robard‘s movie Fools.

In the wake of “Reuben James,” Kenny Rogers recorded more than a dozen Harvey songs. They included the 1970 social-commentary pop hit “Tell It All Brother” and “Hoodooin’ of Miss Fanny DeBerry,” which was included on the million-selling Gambler LP.

Rogers urged him to move to L.A. in 1970. Harvey took acting classes and began seeking TV and movie parts.

Meanwhile, the Memphis pop group Cymarron had a big hit with his “Rings” in 1971. Tompall & The Glaser Brothers covered it for the country field, hitting the Top 10. Lobo, Lonnie Mack, Reuben Howell and Twiggy also recorded “Rings.”

Harvey was signed by Capitol Records on the West Coast. Alex Harvey appeared as his debut LP in 1971. Rogers produced four of its songs, and Wheeler penned its liner notes. “Delta Dawn,” co-written with Larry Collins, was this album’s closing track.

Tanya Tucker launched her career with “Delta Dawn” in 1972. It remains her signature song. In 1973, Helen Reddy turned it into a No. 1 pop smash. It has also been recorded by Loretta Lynn, Bette Midler, Charlie McCoy, Kitty Wells, Waylon Jennings, Dottie West, Teresa Brewer, The Statler Brothers and many others.

“The song started everything off for me,” said Tanya Tucker yesterday (April 5). “I thank God for him, his song, my life, my career and my fans….My life would have been so different without the iconic ‘Delta Dawn’ and her creator Alex Harvey.”

Capitol released Souvenirs as Harvey’s second LP in 1972. It included his own versions of “Rings” and “Reuben James.” His third LP, 1973’s True Love, included “Makin’ Music for Money.” Jimmy Buffett popularized the song the following year.

Harvey next signed with Buddah Records, which released Preshus Chlld (1976) and Purple Crush (1977) as his next two albums. But his main focus during this period was on his acting career. James Garner took Harvey under his wing and featured him in the 1982 TV film The Long Summer of George Adams.

Subsequent movies cast him alongside Jane Fonda (1984’s The Dollmaker), Sharon Gless (1984’s The Sky Is No Limit), Jessica Lange (1985’s Country), Hayley Mills (1987’s The Parent Trap II), Daniel J. Travanti (1983’s Adam), Stacy Keach (1982’s The Blue and the Gray), Michael Pare (1987’s Houston Knights) and Kristofferson (1997’s Fire Down Below).

Alex Harvey moved back to Nashville in 1983. He reacquainted local audiences with his songs and showmanship. He augmented his distinctive, bluesy vocals with flamboyant costumes and handed out buttons, ribbons and printed programs at gigs.

In 1986 T. Graham Brown had a No. 1 hit with “Hell and High Water,” co-written with Harvey. Willie Nelson recorded “No Place But Texas,” the 1986 Alex Harvey song that was named the official song of the state’s sesquicentennial celebration. It also became the title tune of Harvey’s sixth album.

Tim Ryan had his chart debut in 1990 with their collaboration “Dance in Circles,” and the two became frequent songwriting partners. Billy Ray Cyrus returned Harvey to the country Top 10 via “Somebody New” in 1993, and he returned to the songwriter’s catalog for 1997’s “Bluegrass State of Mind.” Chris LeDoux sang Harvey’s “Five Dollar Fine” in 1999.

Over the years, his songs have also been recorded by Anne Murray, Andy Williams, Eydie Gorme, Merle Haggard, Ferlin Husky, Shirley Bassey, Percy Faith, George Hamilton IV, Leo Kottke, Roy Drusky, Arthur Prysock, Jim Ed Brown, Ed Bruce, Vikki Carr and Peggy Lee, among others.
Alex Harvey continued to record throughout the 1990s and 2000s. His output included Black and Red (1995), Eden (1997), Arms of an Angel (2001), Peace (2003), The Songwriter (2004), Galilee (2005) and Heart of the Art in Song (2018).

In 2015 he created a book as well as an album titled Texas 101. Harvey also hosted syndicated radio and TV series in the Lone Star State.
Alex Harvey’s death on April 4 was revealed yesterday in a Facebook post by his wife, Gineille Sabilino.