Pictured l to r: Bill Cody, Don Reid, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune. Standing: Doug Grau, president, Yell Records. Photo by Susan Niles.
July 8, 2008 — The Statler Brothers have officially retired from the road, but that just makes their concerts all the more attractive.
In fact, Farewell Concert, a longform video that documents their final performance in Staunton, Va., during October 2002, was certified gold earlier this year. They received their official gold plaques from GAC’s Bill Cody just last week when they taped an appearance on Master Series.
It’s hardly the only thing the quartet has been involved in of late. Group members Don and Harold Reid recently released a book about the Statlers titled Random Memories, and just nine days ago, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside Tom T. Hall. During that event, the Statlers — including Phil Balsley and Jimmy Fortune — sang "I'll Go To My Grave Loving You," which marked their first live performance since the farewell concert. The Hall of Fame ceremony also closed with the Statlers joining a host of friends and fellow members — including Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Sonny James, Little Jimmy Dickens and the Jordanaires, among others — in singing the Carter Family classic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."
The Statlers’ Master Series episode debuts on GAC July 20.
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