Introduction
At 70, Jimmy Fortune Finally Opens Up About The Statler Brothers
At 70, Jimmy Fortune remains one of the most recognizable voices connected to the legendary Statler Brothers. Although the group retired from touring more than two decades ago, Fortune’s memories of his years with the quartet continue to fascinate country and gospel music fans.
Born on March 11, 1955, Fortune grew up in Virginia surrounded by music. His family sang together, and he learned guitar at a young age. But he could hardly have imagined that one evening at a Virginia ski resort in 1981 would change his life forever.
That night, Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers happened to hear Fortune perform. DeWitt was impressed by the young singer’s voice and eventually recommended him to the group. After an audition, Fortune performed his first show with the Statlers on January 28, 1982, in Savannah, Georgia. Later that year, he became a permanent member when DeWitt was unable to return to touring because of his health.
Fortune would spend the next 21 years touring, recording, and performing with one of country music’s most respected vocal groups.
Those years became a remarkable chapter in his career.
Fortune was not simply a replacement tenor. He quickly became an important songwriter and contributor to the Statlers’ sound. His first major success with the group came through “Elizabeth,” which became a No. 1 hit. He later wrote additional chart-topping songs including “My Only Love” and “Too Much on My Heart.” He also co-wrote the emotional favorite “More Than a Name on a Wall.”
For Fortune, however, the Statler Brothers were about more than awards and record sales.
The group had already built a legendary reputation before he joined. Their roots stretched back to gospel singing in Staunton, Virginia, and their career eventually included years performing with Johnny Cash, major country hits, television success, and recognition from both the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Fortune became part of the quartet alongside Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley. Together, they created the lineup that many fans remember most vividly.
Their television success was equally impressive. The Statler Brothers Show debuted on TNN in 1991 and became the network’s top-rated program, remaining on television for seven seasons. The group’s combination of harmony, comedy, storytelling, and warmth made them beloved far beyond traditional country audiences.
Then came the farewell.
The Statler Brothers retired from concerts and touring in October 2002 after nearly four decades together. Their official website remembers the farewell concert as the closing chapter of an extraordinary touring career.
But retirement did not end Fortune’s musical journey.
He launched a successful solo career, releasing country, gospel, and Christmas projects. His 2015 album Hits & Hymns reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and allowed him to continue sharing the music that had defined his life. He later became part of the group Brothers of the Heart, continuing to perform and record with other accomplished musicians.
Today, Fortune’s reflections on the Statler Brothers carry a special emotional weight. Harold Reid died in 2020, while the original tenor Lew DeWitt passed away in 1990. The passage of time has transformed Fortune’s memories of the group into an important piece of country music history.
For fans, perhaps the most meaningful part of Jimmy Fortune’s story is not simply that he joined a legendary group.
It is that he helped carry its harmony into a new generation.
The Statler Brothers may have left the stage in 2002, but their voices—and the memories of the men who created that unforgettable sound—continue to live on through their recordings and through artists like Jimmy Fortune, who still carry the music forward.