On August 15, 1990, country music lost one of the voices that helped define The Statler Brothers. Lew DeWitt, the group’s original tenor singer, guitarist, and songwriter, passed away at home in Virginia at just 52 years old.
Hundreds of miles away, The Statler Brothers were on tour. A concert at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York, was scheduled for the following day. What would ordinarily have been another stop on a familiar road had suddenly become part of a much sadder chapter in the group’s history.
And behind that moment was a story about friendship, gratitude, and a song that would continue honoring Lew DeWitt long after his death.
The Voice That Helped Build The Statler Brothers
Long before The Statler Brothers became one of country music’s most recognizable vocal groups, Lew DeWitt had helped shape their distinctive harmony sound.
Alongside Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley, Lew DeWitt built a career rooted in gospel music, close harmonies, and storytelling. Their association with Johnny Cash during the 1960s helped introduce The Statler Brothers to a much wider audience.
Then, in 1965, Lew DeWitt wrote a song that changed everything.
That song was “Flowers on the Wall.”
With its unusual humor, memorable melody, and wonderfully eccentric lyrics, “Flowers on the Wall” became one of The Statler Brothers’ signature recordings. It helped establish the group as a major force in country music.
But Lew DeWitt’s contribution extended far beyond one successful record. That unmistakable tenor voice had become an essential part of the group’s identity.
When Lew DeWitt Had to Leave
In 1982, ongoing health problems forced Lew DeWitt to reconsider the demanding schedule of touring with The Statler Brothers.
Jimmy Fortune initially joined as a temporary replacement. According to Jimmy Fortune’s own account, Lew DeWitt had heard Jimmy Fortune singing and recommended Jimmy Fortune to the group.
Eventually, Jimmy Fortune became a permanent member.
For some fans, the transition marked the end of an era. For Lew DeWitt and Jimmy Fortune, however, it did not mean the end of their friendship.
Lew DeWitt continued making music on a smaller scale with the Star City Band before retiring from performing in 1989.
The News That Came During the 1990 Tour
When Lew DeWitt died on August 15, 1990, The Statler Brothers were still traveling and performing.
A contemporary report recorded that the group’s members had visited Lew DeWitt about two weeks earlier. Although they understood Lew DeWitt was seriously ill, the news of the death still shocked them.
The group’s appearance at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York, is documented for August 16, 1990.
In a later interview feature about Lew DeWitt, writer Jeremy Roberts recounted that Don Reid announced Lew DeWitt’s passing during an Erie County Fair performance. That account places the announcement on August 15, while surviving concert listings date the appearance August 16. The exact timing therefore remains uncertain.
What is certain is that The Statler Brothers had lost one of the men responsible for creating their original sound.
No reliable set list establishes whether “Flowers on the Wall” was performed as a tribute during that particular appearance. But the song’s connection to Lew DeWitt would endure for decades.
Jimmy Fortune Never Forgot the Man He Replaced
Years later, Jimmy Fortune shared a particularly touching memory of Lew DeWitt.
About a month before Lew DeWitt passed away, Jimmy Fortune visited the singer at home. Lew DeWitt’s wife, Judy, was there, and the three spent time together.
Looking back, Jimmy Fortune expressed gratitude that the visit happened while Lew DeWitt was still alive.
But Jimmy Fortune revealed something even more meaningful.
In an interview published in 2020, Jimmy Fortune explained that “Flowers on the Wall” remained part of his performances as a tribute to Lew DeWitt.
The song had originally helped bring The Statler Brothers national recognition. Decades later, Jimmy Fortune was still using that same song to honor the man whose place Jimmy Fortune had taken.
It was a simple gesture, but one with a remarkable history behind it.
A Song That Outlived Its Writer
The Statler Brothers eventually retired from touring in 2002. Lew DeWitt was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Statler Brothers in 2008, eighteen years after his death.
Yet perhaps the most personal tribute was not an award or induction ceremony.
It was Jimmy Fortune continuing to sing “Flowers on the Wall,” remembering a friend who had helped make an extraordinary musical career possible.
For generations of country music fans, the song remains an unforgettable classic. For Jimmy Fortune, it carries another meaning: a reminder of Lew DeWitt, the original tenor whose songwriting and friendship left a lasting mark.
And whenever that familiar melody begins, a little piece of Lew DeWitt’s legacy comes back to life.