“Hero’s Resting Place” by Andy Middleton Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Harold Reid, of the Statler Brothers, has died after a long battle with kidney failure. He was 80.
The Statler Brothers got started singing backup for country legend Johnny Cash. Some of their big hits included 1965’s “Flowers on the Wall” and 1970′s “Bed of Rose’s.”
Harold Reid was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He was also a comedian.
“He is and will always be loved by his family, friends and millions of fans,” a statement on the band’s website said. “His singing, his songwriting and his comedy made generations happy. He has taken a piece of our hearts with him.”
Reid and three boyhood friends — Lew DeWitt, Phil Balsley and Joe McDorman — formed the Four-Star Quartet in 1948. The group, later known as the Kingsmen, sang mostly gospel music. McDorman quit and was replaced by Don Reid, Harold’s younger brother.
DeWitt said the group’s name came from a box of Statler tissue.
The quartet started singing country music in 1964, after meeting Johnny Cash and joining his road show.
Over the next two decades, the Statlers won three Grammy Awards and were named top vocal groups nine times by the Country Music Association.
“He leaves a large and loving family and millions of fans who remember his stage and TV antics with smiles and cherish his music that will live with the ages,” Debo Reid said in a statement.