January 28, 2008 — Nostalgia was a major theme in the career of the Statler Brothers, who paid homage to earlier times in such songs as "Do You Remember These," "Whatever Happened To Randolph Scott" and "The Movies." Now their personal nostalgia forms the backbone for a book by two of the group's founders.
The Yell Publishing Company will issue Don and Harold Reid's Random Memories February 19. The book looks back at four decades of performing with stories about their biggest hits and about the many stars they befriended, including Johnny Cash, who employed them in the 1960s as a backing vocal group.
The book's timing is perfect. Three days earlier, their former producer, Jerry Kennedy, will be saluted at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The event is part of the Hall's Nashville Cats series of tributes to Music City's legendary players. In addition to producing the Statlers, Kennedy directed sessions by Jerry Lee Lewis, Reba McEntire, Tom T. Hall and Roger Miller. He also played guitar or Dobro on such classic recordings as Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A.," Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" and Elvis Presley's "(You're The) Devil In Disguise."
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