The Statler Brothers

The Statler Brothers were one of the most successful vocal harmony groups in the history of country music.

The group began as a gospel trio, the Statlers, though with the addition of another member they briefly took the name the Kingsmen. A band of the same name hit the charts with “Louie, Louie” and the band had to change names again. A chance meeting led to them to open a concert for Johnny Cash. Cash liked them so much, he engaged the group for further gigs, and as the Statler Brothers they supported him between 1963 and 1971.

Their association with Cash gave them a ready audience which benefited their debut album. Released in 1966, they scored a hit with the title track “Flowers on the Wall”. Further hits followed, and right through to the mid-80s they were regularly in the Top 30 of the Country charts, with tracks including “Do You Know You are My Sunshine?” and “Elizabeth”.

Their hits began to dry up in the late 80s, though they were still able to fill sizeable venues as a popular touring act throughout the 90s. The band played their last concert in 2002, almost 40 years after their first. After the tour they went to the studio for one last album, fittingly titled Amen.