AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Statler Brothers

Artist:The Statler Brothers

Song:Flowers on the Wall

Album:The World of The Statler Brothers

The Statler Brothers were a Southern Gospel group that hit a home run when the 1965 single Flowers on the Wall was not only a country music hit but it crossed over to pop. There was renewed interest in Flowers on the Wall when Quentin Tarantino used it in his 1994 film Pulp Fiction. When The Statler Brothers started out in Staunton, VA in 1955, they were called The Four Star Quartet and then The Kingsmen. The original members were Joe McDorman on lead, Lew DeWitt on tenor, Phil Balsley on baritone and Harold Reid on bass. McDorman left in 1960 and was replaced by Reid's brother Don Reid. This was the lineup until 1982. They sang in local churches. After Louie Louie was a hit for The Kingsmen, they became The Statler Brothers. They got Statler from a brand of facial tissue. The Statler Brothers became Johnny Cash's backup singers in 1964 and he got them a record deal with Columbia. Flowers on the Wall was on their 1965 debut album also called Flowers on the Wall. The single reached #2 on the Country Singles chart. But the big surprise was when it crossed over to pop and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lew DeWitt wrote Flowers on the Wall and the record was produced by Columbia Nashville house producers Don Law and Frank Jones. This was the only pop hit for The Statler Brothers but they continued to have success in country music for the next two decades. The Statler Brothers left Columbia for Mercury in 1969. This budget comp covers the Columbia years. This is the original recording. There are plenty of Mercury comps but The Statler Brothers re-recorded Flowers on the Wall in 1975 and that is the version that is on the Mercury comps. It is also the version that Quentin Tarantino used in Pulp Fiction. Lew DeWitt retired in 1982 due to ill health. He died in 1990. He was replaced by Jimmy Fortune. The Statler Brothers recorded for Mercury until 1992. They hosted their own variety show on TNN from 1991-98. They retired in 2002. Here's The Statler Brothers performing Flowers on the Wall on The Porter Wagoner Show 1966.