Bands are made up of different things.  Great voices would certainly be one.  Then, if you add distinctive personalities, well, that's an added bonus.  And it's true in all kinds of music.

An example: The Beatles.  You remember...Paul was the 'cute' one, John the 'deep' one, George the 'quiet' one, and Ringo the 'fun' one.

Well, the same kind of thing can be said of the greatest group in the history of country music.  Yes, they were entertainers both on and off the record!

Let's see, you had Don, kind of the 'leader' one.  Harold was, without question, the 'fun' and 'funny' one!  Lew (and later Jimmy) were perhaps the more 'serious' one(s).  Oh yeah, and they had a 'quiet' one too.

Geez, what was his name again??

Phil.  That's it, Phil...Balsley.

One of the four founding members of the group, Phil was the baritone singer that...well...sang!  While he didn't command the spotlight as much as the other members, the Statler Brothers would not have been the Statler Brothers without that beautiful voice.

And besides that, every band or group needs the 'quiet' one!

Born in Staunton, Virginia, Phil was a bookkeeper at his father's sheet metal business before the Statler's went professional.  Although he didn't participate much in the songwriting process for the group, believe me, Phil was a major part in the Statler Brothers world famous and now legendary harmony.

Phil, like the Statler Brothers as a group, is retired now, living with his wife Wilma.

Meanwhile, we can play those great Statler brothers hit's over and over and remember the greatness of Harold, Lew, Don, Jimmy and....the quiet one...Phil

 

 

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