In a moment that left fans teary-eyed and deeply moved, Wil Reid, son of the late Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers, opened up about the profound connection he still feels with his father — especially when the spotlight hits and the music begins.
During a recent Wilson Fairchild performance, Wil paused before the final encore to share something he says he’s carried quietly for years.
“Every time I sing that song,” he said, referring to their beloved track “The Statler Brothers Song”, “I feel him. I swear I do. He’s right there beside me — not in memory, not in thought — but in spirit.”
The crowd, a mix of longtime Statler fans and a new generation discovering their sound, fell into hushed reverence as Wil went on.
“He’s the reason I’m here. The reason Langdon and I ever picked up a guitar. And even though he’s not physically on this stage anymore… I hear his voice in the harmony. I feel his presence in the quiet moments before a note is sung.”
Harold Reid, the iconic bass voice and humorist of The Statler Brothers, passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy that shaped American country and gospel music. But for his son, the legacy isn’t just musical — it’s deeply personal.
“Growing up, he wasn’t just the man on stage,” Wil recalled in a backstage interview. “He was the dad who made breakfast on Sundays, who told the corniest jokes, who knew exactly when to say nothing at all — and when to say the one thing that would make you feel safe.”
Fans have long wondered what it must feel like to carry on a father’s musical legacy, but Wil says it’s not about pressure — it’s about presence.
“He’s still with me,” Wil said simply. “And singing those songs — his songs — is how I keep him close.”
As the final chord of the night rang out and the crowd rose in standing ovation, many sensed it wasn’t just for the music — it was for the memory of a father and the unspoken bond that lives on in every note.
