In a stunning and deeply emotional revelation that has sent shockwaves through the country music community, Jimmy Fortune, the cherished tenor of the iconic The Statler Brothers, has shared a painful and poignant account of the final, heart-wrenching days of the group’s original founder, Lew DeWitt. Fortune’s tearful words paint a vivid picture of a friendship forged in music and a legacy that continues to defy the passage of time, leaving fans reaching for their handkerchiefs.
DeWitt, whose unmistakable tenor voice was the cornerstone of the group’s sound, was forced to step away from the stage in 1982, beginning a long and courageous battle with Crohn’s disease. In an industry full of rivalries, what followed was a story of profound respect and humility. Jimmy Fortune was chosen to step into one of the most famous quartets in America, but he is adamant that he was never a replacement. “I never filled Lew’s shoes,” Fortune stated, his voice thick with emotion. “I just walked beside the path he laid.” This humble admission underscores the immense shadow cast by DeWitt, a man Fortune describes as nothing less than the group’s spiritual core. “Lew was the soul of the Statlers,” he confessed softly in a recent, rare interview. “And we’ve never stopped missing him.”
The most gut-wrenching part of Fortune’s story centers on his final visits with Lew as the illness began to take its ultimate toll. He recalls a man whose body was failing but whose spirit remained unbreakable, a spirit still deeply connected to the music that had defined his life. “He still sang when he could,” Fortune revealed, a memory that is both beautiful and tragic. “Even from a hospital bed. That voice was gentler, but it still carried something holy.” It was during one of these somber visits that DeWitt, frail but resolute, imparted a final, sacred trust upon his successor. Looking at Jimmy, he made a simple, powerful request: “Take care of the music. Keep it true.” A command Jimmy Fortune has never forgotten.
Lew DeWitt passed away in 1990, but his presence has remained a constant, powerful force. His harmonies are immortalized in timeless classics like “Flowers on the Wall” and “Bed of Roses,” and his soul is forever woven into the fabric of the brotherhood. For Jimmy Fortune, this is more than just a memory; it is a living part of him. “I owe him everything,” Jimmy declared, his gratitude palpable. “He gave me a place in something bigger than myself. And I carry him with me every time I sing.” For the millions of fans who grew up with their songs, Lew DeWitt was never just a voice on the radio. As this heartbreaking remembrance reminds us, he was the feeling behind the harmony. The quiet soul at the heart of a brotherhood.
