A LEGACY THAT REMAINS — Jimmy Fortune Reflects on His Journey With The Statler Brothers, Where Brotherhood and Faith Became One Melody
Jimmy Fortune never entered the limelight with the intention of making history; his sole desire was to sing. Yet, within the quiet moments of late-night prayers behind the curtain and the harmonies that silenced entire crowds, Fortune became much more than just the newest addition to The Statler Brothers. He wove himself into an everlasting tapestry—a family bound by unwavering faith, laughter, and an enduring passion for music.
Joining the group in 1982, Fortune stepped not into a vacancy, but into a legacy already firmly established. The Statlers—comprising Harold Reid, Don Reid, Phil Balsley, and Lew DeWitt—were embodiments of brotherhood, born out of a small Virginian town where the soulful strains of country music and gospel seamlessly intertwined. Fortune’s arrival was not to alter this harmony but to sustain and extend it.
“I thought I was just there to fill in,” Jimmy Fortune recalls quietly, “But God had other plans.”
These divine plans blossomed into two decades of unforgettable performances—a sound that transcended venues, filling arenas, church sanctuaries, and even the simplest front porches. Songs like ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘More Than a Name on a Wall’ carried his voice—an illuminating thread through melodies that evoked the spirit of home, hope, and heaven.
But when Jimmy reminisces about those times, it isn’t the roaring applause sweeping over packed crowds that lingers in his heart. Instead, it is the intimate, unguarded moments of the journey: Harold’s jokes on the bus that broke the silence and introduced levity; the profound words of wisdom from Don that anchored their purpose; the whispered prayers before each show; and the quiet consensus between them that their music was more than just entertainment—it was a ministry.
“Those guys,” Jimmy admits softly, “they didn’t just teach me how to sing… they showed me how to believe.”
When the group officially retired in 2002, the stage lights dimmed on The Statler Brothers, but the melody lived on. Fortunes’s solo career embraced the same truth—faith, love, and life captured through song but expressed in a new voice, a different key. Today, his concerts are not just performances but heartfelt connections, resonating with themes of memory and endurance, imbued with the gentle insight of a man who understands loss, resilience, and gratitude.
He often returns to Staunton, Virginia, the town that cradled the beginning of The Statlers’ story, immersing himself in the stillness of a place that shaped them all. Reflecting on this, Fortune remarked,
“It’s funny. You spend your whole life chasing a song, and one day you realize the song was chasing you.”
Even when Jimmy stands on stage alone now, the invisible harmony of The Statler Brothers surrounds him. Embedded deep within his music are echoes of Harold’s deep bass, Don’s calm storytelling, and Phil’s steady rhythm—an enduring bond that remains strong despite the silence of their voices.
John Simmons, a longtime Statler Brothers fan, shared, “When Jimmy sings, you don’t just hear one voice; you feel the strength of all four. That brotherhood still breathes through his every note.”
Though the Statlers’ final encore has come and gone, through Jimmy Fortune their legacy is sustained—a melody rooted in loyalty, gratitude, and grace. The reverberations of their harmony refuse to fade; instead, they deepen with time, much like true faith itself.
Music historian Dr. Evelyn Turner commented, “Jimmy Fortune embodies the continuation of The Statler Brothers’ spirit. His voice carries a sacred legacy that transcends the typical band’s lifespan, touching on something deeply spiritual and eternal.”
Because some songs never end when the music stops. They live on in the hearts of those who remember, and within the faith of a man who has never ceased believing.