Don is one of the original members of the Statler Brothers, the most award-winning act in the history of country music. He and his brother and two friends began singing in their hometown of Staunton, Virginia when Don was only 14 years old. Working all over their home and neighboring states as a part time group, they were discovered in 1964 by Johnny Cash and given their first record contract. By the time Don was 20 years old, the Statlers had their first major, world-wide hit record with “Flowers On The Wall,” which started a string of hits that generated a career in the music industry that lasted four decades, awarded them multiple Grammies and over 20 gold and platinum albums.  

Don was the principle writer for the group, writing most of the songs himself or co-writing with brother Harold. Don has had over 300 of his songs recorded by not only the Statlers, but also by Johnny Cash, George Burns, Bill Anderson, Tammy Wynette, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and Elvis Presley to name a few.

For the next 38 years, the Statlers continued to dominate the concert circuit with sold out houses.  In the ‘90’s, the Statlers hosted a music variety show on TNN, “The Statler Brothers Show,” which ranked #1 on cable television for its entire seven seasons. This series was produced by the Brothers with every episode written by Don and Harold. The Reid brothers also wrote another TV series called “Yesteryear” during this same period as well as numerous television specials.

It wasn’t until the Statler Brothers decided to retire from traveling in 2002 that Don pursued his writing career to another level. Having songwriting and scriptwriting under his belt, the next obvious step was to write a book. And that book was the scripture-based Heroes and Outlaws of the Bible published in June of 2002 by New Leaf Press.

It tells the story of eight major characters in the Bible: Abraham, Joseph, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Elijah, Esther and John the Baptist. Written in everyday language, it touches on the flaws and the glories of these ancient heroes with problems and defects that we all can identify with even today. It’s written with humor and precision and has not only been an education and entertainment for those who have read it, but has been used as Sunday School material and Bible Study courses all over the country in churches of nearly every denomination.

Don’s second book, Sunday Morning Memories, is far and away different from the volume two that everyone was expecting. It’s a book of virtual memories of a boy growing up in a southern protestant church. It’s humorous and nostalgic as it takes a warm and funny look at all the church activities we grew up with.  New hymnbooks and the agitation they cause. “C & E Christians” and how they only fill the pews on holidays. Vacation Bible school. Sunday movies and church softball games. 

His third book, You Know It’s Christmas When…, was written with his two  sons and is a colorful collection of holiday thoughts and memories, fun quizzes for all ages, short stories, and poems.

Don teamed up with brother Harold for his fourth book and it’s about the Statler Brothers’ career, aptly titled Random Memories. It’s a collection of their memories of a 40-year profession that took them on spiritual highs and lows that they are sharing for the first time with the public. It also includes an unprecedented forty- eight pages of pictures never before published. They explore the stories behind the many songs they wrote and reveal the personal relationships they had with some of the most renowned figures they have known in the entertainment and political fields.   

Don’s first Christmas novel, O Little Town, will be released in the fall of 2008.

Don is the father of two sons. Debo and his wife, Julie, and daughter, Sela Mae, live within a stone’s throw. You may have seen Debo’s name on many songs written with Don on albums over the years. 

Younger son, Langdon, is married to Alexis and they have a daughter, Caroline and a son, Davis. You may have seen Langdon’s name on many songs and may also have seen him on TV and heard him on the radio as part of country music’s hot young duo, Grandstaff, with his cousin Wil.

Don and his wife, Debbie, live in Staunton, Virginia with their pup, Chipper.

The Statler Brothers were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in October of 2007 and inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in June of 2008. They are only the sixth act in history to be in both Halls.