In a moment that has left fans both moved and astonished, Don Reid, the longtime lead vocalist and songwriter of The Statler Brothers, has finally broken his silence about a story he’s kept close to his heart for over 30 years—a story about his former bandmate, the late and dearly missed Lew DeWitt.
“There’s something I never told anyone—not fully, anyway,” Don said, his voice quiet with reflection. “And after all this time, I think it’s finally time to say it.”
What followed was not a scandal or controversy, but something far more powerful: a testimony of humility, sacrifice, and brotherhood that paints an even deeper portrait of Lew’s legacy.
“Back in the early ’80s, when Lew’s health was declining, there were nights he was in real pain,” Don recalled. “But he never once asked to cancel a show. Never once made it about himself. He said, ‘If I can sing one more harmony, I’m going to do it.’ And he did. Even when it hurt to stand.”
For years, fans knew Lew had battled Crohn’s disease and other complications, leading to his eventual departure from the group in 1982. But what they didn’t know was just how much he gave of himself to keep the group going—even when it cost him his strength.
“He didn’t want sympathy. He just wanted the music to be right. That was Lew,” Don said. “He was always about the song—not the spotlight.”
Don also shared that Lew privately wrote songs and melodies he never showed the group—not out of pride, but because he thought others’ voices deserved to be heard more.
“I found some of those lyrics after he passed, tucked away in a folder he never meant anyone to find,” Don revealed. “And they were beautiful. Heartbreaking. And full of grace. Just like him.”
Now, decades after Lew DeWitt’s passing in 1990, Don says he still hears his voice in harmony, especially when listening back to their early records.
“There are some things you don’t get over,” he said. “You just carry them with you—in gratitude.”
Fans around the world have always loved Lew for his tender tenor voice, his songwriting, and his smile—but now, thanks to Don Reid’s words, they’ve been given something deeper: a glimpse into the quiet courage of a man who gave everything to the music—and to the people he loved.
“He was the soul of our sound, and the gentlest soul I ever knew,” Don concluded. “I only wish I had told him all this when I had the chance.”
And with that, the truth—long buried in silence—has finally become part of The Statler Brothers’ legacy. One not just of harmony, but of honor, heart, and a friendship that never fades.
