Harold Reid

 Harold Reid (August 21, 1939- April 24, 2020)

His resonant bass, comic touch and business skills helped make the Statler Brothers a top-grossing touring act and a steady presence on the country music charts for decades. Reid was the group's de facto leader as they placed 58 singles in the country Top 40 from 1965 to 1989 — 32 of them in the Top 10. Four of them, including “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine,” a song written by Mr. Reid and his younger brother, Don, who sang lead vocals, reached No. 1. As an opening act for Johnny Cash from 1964 to 1971, the Statlers played an important role in the Southernization of American pop culture that was occurring then. The group recorded for Mercury for two decades, winning a third Grammy and nine Country Music Association Awards. They hosted a long-running TV variety show on the Nashville Network. In 2007, five years after their retirement, the Statlers were inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the next year.In addition, their songs have been featured on several film soundtracks and also in the famous video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. These range from "Charlotte's Web" in Smokey and the Bandit II, to "Flowers on the Wall" in Pulp Fiction. Reid was married for 59 years, and had four daughters. Harold Reid died after a lengthy battle with kidney failure at age 80 on April 24, 2020. Reid is interred at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.