Introduction
Two of the Four Voices on “The Class of ’57” Are Gone Now—And the Song Carries Even More Meaning
Some songs grow older with us.
Others seem to grow deeper.
For many fans of The Statler Brothers, “The Class of ’57” has become one of those rare recordings whose meaning changes with every passing year.
When it was released in 1972, the song looked back on the hopes and dreams of a graduating class with warmth, humor, and quiet melancholy. Written by Don Reid and Harold Reid, it reflected on how life carries people in different directions, reminding listeners that time rarely unfolds the way anyone expects.
Today, the song carries another layer of emotion.
Two of the four voices heard on that classic recording are no longer with us.
Lew DeWitt, whose clear tenor became an essential part of the Statler Brothers’ early sound, left the group in 1982 after a long struggle with Crohn’s disease. Though illness forced him away from touring, his contributions to the quartet’s harmony remain unforgettable. He passed away in 1990, leaving behind a musical legacy that continues to inspire country and gospel fans alike.
Harold Reid, the unmistakable bass voice of the group and co-writer of The Class of ’57, remained the heart of the Statler Brothers for decades. Known for his booming vocals, quick wit, and deep faith, Harold helped shape the group’s unique personality both on and off the stage. He passed away at his home in Staunton, Virginia, in April 2020 at the age of 80, following a long battle with kidney failure.
When listeners return to The Class of ’57 today, they are hearing more than a nostalgic song about classmates growing older.
They are hearing the voices of friends and brothers whose own journeys have become part of the story the song tells.
The lyrics speak of dreams fulfilled, dreams forgotten, and the quiet reality that time changes everyone. What once sounded like gentle reflection now feels almost prophetic, reminding us that no reunion can ever be exactly the same once cherished voices have fallen silent.
Yet the song is not defined by loss.
It is defined by gratitude.
Every harmony shared by Lew DeWitt, Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley remains preserved exactly as it was recorded, allowing new generations to discover one of country music’s most heartfelt performances.
That is the enduring gift of music.
People may leave us, but the voices they gave the world continue to speak across time.
And every time The Class of ’57’ begins to play, those four voices are together once again—reminding us that while life moves forward, great harmony never truly grows old.