JUST IN: Don Reid Opens Up About Replacing Lew with Jimmy Fortune
In a moment of rare honesty and reflection, Don Reid, the longtime frontman of The Statler Brothers, has opened up about one of the most difficult and emotional decisions the group ever faced: replacing original tenor Lew DeWitt with a then-unknown young singer named Jimmy Fortune.
“It wasn’t just a musical decision,” Don shared in a recent interview. “It was a matter of the heart.”
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Lew DeWitt, a founding member of the Statlers, had been with the group from the very beginning — his soaring tenor and warm spirit helping shape their unmistakable harmony and identity. But by the early 1980s, Lew’s battle with Crohn’s disease had taken its toll.
“Lew was in constant pain,” Don recalled. “But he never complained. He loved the music and he loved being on stage. Letting go wasn’t something any of us wanted to do — it was something we had to do.”
In 1982, with Lew’s health declining, the Statler Brothers made the heartbreaking decision to bring in a new voice. Enter Jimmy Fortune, a young singer from Virginia with a gentle spirit, powerful range, and big shoes to fill.
“We didn’t want a clone of Lew,” Don explained. “We wanted someone who could respect the legacy — and add something new to it.”
And that’s exactly what Jimmy did.
Don spoke candidly about how Lew himself helped make the transition easier, blessing the group’s decision and even offering encouragement to Jimmy. “That was just the kind of man Lew was,” Don said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Gracious, humble, and full of love. He didn’t see Jimmy as a threat. He saw him as family.”
The transition was emotional for fans, too. But over time, Jimmy not only honored Lew’s legacy — he built one of his own.
“Jimmy walked into the hardest role in country music, and he never once acted like he deserved it,” Don said. “He earned every note, every standing ovation.”
Today, looking back, Don says it wasn’t about replacing anyone. It was about continuing a mission — to make music that told the truth, healed hearts, and stayed rooted in brotherhood.
“We lost Lew far too soon,” Don said quietly. “But every time Jimmy sings, I hear a little of Lew in there too — not in the sound, but in the spirit.”
For fans of The Statler Brothers, this moment of reflection is a powerful reminder: behind every harmony was a story of pain, courage, and grace.
And if you want to feel what that transition sounded like, this song still carries both voices in its soul.
