Author Archive

11
Jul

The 4th of July and Memories

Written by Don Reid. Posted in General

I’ve had a very emotional and fulfilling week. On the 4th of July, WILSON FAIRCHILD, my son and nephew, performed in our hometown and brought music and patriotism to the hearts of the many thousands who were there. It was their second year of carrying on a tradition the STATLERS created nearly 50 years ago and I have to tell you in all sincerity, it is just as sweet to experience it from the audience as it was from the stage all those years. There was a vesper service on the night of the 3rd; food booths galore; a parade around Gypsy Hill Park on the morning of the 4th; entertainment all day long from the main stage and then the stars of the night, WILSON FAIRCHILD at 8pm for a two-hour country-music-flag-waving performance that just stirred every nerve in my body. Maybe you were there, maybe you caught the live stream or maybe you saw it on public tv a couple of nights later. I encourage you to experience it in person next year if at all possible. The address is Staunton, VA. Then just roll down the car windows and follow the music. You’ll be glad you did.

Then just days after all this, I get word that an old album of ours has been re-released this week from 1995. THE STATLER BROTHERS SING THE CLASSICS. This brought more emotion I wasn’t planning on because this album was a very special one to Harold, Phil, Jimmy and me because of the song selections on it. Every song we chose and sang here had a profound influence on me as I was growing up. They were all from the fabulous 50s with one or two of our hits thrown in for good measure. MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS – THE GREAT PRETENDER – MOMENTS TO REMEMBER and twenty-one other old heart-wrenching songs that I get weak in the stomach just thinking about. Of all our forty years of recording, this is my favorite album to listen to. I remember just after it was released twenty-three years ago, Harold saying in an interview that the STATLERS were singing at their absolute best on this album of classics. I have to agree with him.

But I’m not here to advertise. If you want to know more about it and how to get it, check it out at statlerbrothers.com     And as for the 4th of July, maybe I’ll see you in Staunton next year!

 

DSR  7/11/18

21
Feb

Billy Graham

Written by Don Reid. Posted in General

This morning the world lost a spiritual icon and a true man of God. I received a text just minutes before it hit the news that Billy Graham had died. It was expected. He had reached the venerable age of ninety and nine years and I am sure in his heart of hearts he was ready to go see the Kingdom of Christ.

 

I was in a Bible Study tonight at Debbie’s Baptist church when the minister asked me if I would say a few words to the group about Billy Graham as he knew we had been associated through the years. I recalled that we had appeared on a number of tv shows together and we had sung on multiple crusades of his. He was an honorable and good man and loved by everyone who met him and worked with him. I then remembered a story that I thought showed his true brotherly spirit.

We, the Statlers, had been on a long three-week tour and on the last night, we joined the Billy Graham Crusade in Dallas for one night and then headed home the next day. We were anxious to get home and after checking all the schedules found we could fly out of Dallas that night without having to wait till the next day for a flight. Only problem was, to make that plane, we’d have to leave the coliseum right after our song and before his sermon. We debated all afternoon whether we should approach him with that possibility. Would it be rude? Would he be offended? After much soul-searching, at rehearsal we called him aside and told him our dilemma and before we even finished our story, he said, “Boys, when you get through with your song, just cut out of here. Go home and I don’t blame you.” He set our hearts at ease and showed his true class and brotherhood.

 

I read his column everyday in the newspaper or online. He handles every question with grace and understanding and gives the best Christian advice humanly possible. I have been teaching a Sunday school class for over thirty years at my home church and many, many times I have ripped his column from the newspaper and taken it to church with me and used it for the Sunday school lesson.

 

Billy Graham has been honored so many times and in so many ways and with so many gold plaques, but today he received the ultimate reward. Tonight, as we speak nobly of him and of his faith and his loving nature, he is so very far beyond all our words and accolades.

Because tonight he has seen Jesus.

 

 

 

May your soul be in rest, Billy Graham.

 

2/21/18   DSR