On October 26, 2002, The Statler Brothers performed their final concert in Salem, Virginia. After decades of singing together, Harold Reid, Don Reid, Phil Balsley, and Jimmy Fortune were closing one of the most successful chapters in country music history.
For Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley, retirement meant leaving the road behind. But Jimmy Fortune was younger, and Jimmy Fortune wasn’t ready to stop singing.
Just eleven days later, Jimmy Fortune stood onstage without the three men who had shared nearly every performance for the previous 20 years.
And despite all that experience, Jimmy Fortune was so nervous that Jimmy Fortune nearly put down the guitar and walked away.
When Three Brothers Decided It Was Time to Go Home
Jimmy Fortune joined The Statler Brothers in 1982, replacing original tenor Lew DeWitt. Over the next two decades, Jimmy Fortune became an essential part of the group’s sound, writing beloved songs including “Elizabeth,” “My Only Love,” and “Too Much on My Heart.”
For years, Jimmy Fortune had stood beside Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley, surrounded by familiar voices and backed by a five-piece band.
The four men knew how to work together. They understood each other’s timing, personalities, and musical instincts. That kind of familiarity comes from years of sharing stages and traveling the country together.
When The Statler Brothers announced their retirement, Jimmy Fortune faced a difficult decision. The other three members had earned their rest, but Jimmy Fortune still loved performing.
There was no bitter separation. Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley gave Jimmy Fortune their blessing to continue a solo career.
And Harold Reid offered advice that Jimmy Fortune would remember long afterward.
The Advice Harold Reid Left Behind
In a 2016 interview with music historian Colin Escott, Jimmy Fortune recalled what Harold Reid said as The Statler Brothers prepared to retire.
“Go be yourself. Do what you do best. Don’t pretend to be what you’re not.”
Harold Reid wanted Jimmy Fortune to trust the abilities that had already made Jimmy Fortune successful. There was no need to imitate the old group or become somebody different.
Jimmy Fortune later described Harold Reid’s encouragement as some of the best advice Jimmy Fortune had ever received.
But knowing what to do and having the confidence to do it were two different things.
Eleven Days Later, Everything Felt Different
On the day after the farewell concert, Jimmy Fortune began preparing for a solo career. The Oak Ridge Boys invited Jimmy Fortune to open several shows, giving the singer an opportunity to get comfortable performing independently.
Eleven days after the retirement of The Statler Brothers, Jimmy Fortune walked out carrying a guitar.
There was no Harold Reid delivering those unmistakable bass notes. No Don Reid or Phil Balsley standing nearby. No familiar five-piece band.
Jimmy Fortune had spent two decades working as part of a quartet. Now every song, every introduction, and every moment belonged to Jimmy Fortune alone.
In the 2016 interview, Jimmy Fortune admitted that the nervousness was almost overwhelming. Jimmy Fortune’s legs were shaking so badly that abandoning the performance seemed like a real possibility.
Then something completely unexpected happened.
Why Apples Suddenly Started Rolling Across the Stage
As Jimmy Fortune struggled with nerves, apples began rolling onto the stage.
The person responsible was Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys.
Joe Bonsall had decided to play a prank on the nervous singer by sending apples rolling into the performance area.
For Jimmy Fortune, the strange interruption worked in a completely different way.
Instead of making the situation worse, the apples broke the tension. Jimmy Fortune became distracted from the anxiety and managed to continue performing.
Afterward, Jimmy Fortune thanked Joe Bonsall for helping Jimmy Fortune get through such a frightening experience.
That’s when Joe Bonsall revealed the real intention behind the stunt:
“I was trying to mess you up!”
The prank had accomplished almost the exact opposite of what Joe Bonsall intended.
Four Voices, One Brotherhood That Never Really Ended
Jimmy Fortune continued building a successful solo career, recording new music while keeping many Statler Brothers favorites alive for audiences who still loved them.
In that same 2016 interview, Jimmy Fortune said the four members had remained in contact after retirement. Harold Reid, Don Reid, and Phil Balsley missed performing for their fans, but they did not miss the demands of touring.
Jimmy Fortune still loved the road.
Looking back, the story of that first solo performance was about more than stage fright or a practical joke.
Harold Reid had given Jimmy Fortune the confidence to move forward. Don Reid and Phil Balsley had supported that decision. And Joe Bonsall, a fellow country music veteran, had accidentally helped Jimmy Fortune through one of the most intimidating performances of a new career.
The Statler Brothers had stopped touring together, but the friendship, encouragement, and lessons Jimmy Fortune carried from those years continued long after the final curtain.
Sometimes, the most meaningful thing an old friend can give you isn’t another opportunity to stand together onstage. It’s the encouragement to keep singing when you have to stand there alone.