Harold Reid, R.I.P.

You might not know Harold Reid's name, but if you've ever listened to a Statler Brothers record then you've definitely heard his deep bass voice. Sadly that voice has been silenced as Reid passed away yesterday following a prolonged battle with kidney disease. He was 80.

Oddly enough I've come to appreciate Reid and The Statler Brothers a lot more over the past year or so as I regularly watch reruns of The Johnny Cash Show on Sunday nights. The Statler Brothers were a part of Cash's musical ensemble before striking out on their own in the mid-1970's and having a string of country hits during the 1980's and their own variety show in the 1990's before retiring in the early 2000's. 

One of the songs I've come to appreciate is "Bed of Rose's", a Reid composition which tells the story of a young man rejected by his church congregation finding aid and comfort in the arms of a lady of the evening who was far more holy than the whole flock. Here is their performance of it on The Johnny Cash Show half a century ago. All the Statlers (who were not named Statler) harmonize beautifully, but it is Reid's voice and words which give the song its backbone. R.I.P.