Statler (and Staunton) Made: Wilson Fairchild's latest release cracks Billboard charts

STAUNTON — Langdon Reid's Google skills apparently surpass the power of any public relations firm or even a music label. One half of the country music duo Wilson Fairchild, Langdon was surfing the internet shortly after the release of the group's latest album, "Statler Made," when he noticed a story about Wilson Fairchild and Billboard.

He clicked on the story and, as it turned out, the album, released Jan. 12 on the Gaither Music Group label, made an appearance in the Billboard Top Current Albums chart, landing at No. 39. That was a first for the Staunton-based group, and not something they were expecting.

It wasn't something the music label was expecting either because when Langdon messaged them with his Google find, the executives at Gaither were also surprised, telling the cousins that was the first they had heard about it.

"I promise you, I will never let that PR department forget about it," Langdon said, his cousin, Wil Reid, laughing in the background.

Wil was 16 and Langdon 14 when they began performing together, sons of legends. Wil’s dad is the late Harold Reid, bass singer for The Statler Brothers; while Langdon’s dad is Don Reid, the Statlers' lead singer. Starting off as Grandstaff, Wil and Langdon eventually changed their name to Wilson Fairchild, a combination of their middle names.

"Statler Made," their third studio album, also landed the duo on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart at No. 22. Good week to be a Reid. The album contains 12 tracks recorded at Nashville’s Treasure Isle Studio and produced by Michael Sykes and Johnny Minick.

The cousins began having conversations with Gaither about a year ago and decided to work together. Then they began talking about their first project together, which turned out to be "Statler Made." While the duo announced on July 4 at their Happy Birthday America concert in Staunton that they had an upcoming album, even they didn't know at the time when it would be released.

"The Gaither folks did not want to release it at the wrong time," Wil said. "We kept waiting last year, hoping it would be out. But they didn't want to release it too late in the fall and compete with the Christmas market. Sometimes in November and December, music gets lost. So that's why the official release was Jan. 12."

It includes six classic Statler Brothers songs: "Susan When She Tried," "Bed of Roses," "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine," "The Class of ’57," "Flowers on the Wall" and "I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You."

Wil said Gaither loved the family connection, helping lead to the decision to do this album. It was the first time Wilson Fairchild had explored rerecording some of the Statler's biggest hits.

"But we were only going to do it if we could bring something new to it," Wil said. "And I think that's what we did with these recordings. We didn't change the songs, but maybe a little more electric guitar here and there and different vocal arrangements here and there."

Langdon said he feels the songs maintain the Statler Brothers's legacy while putting their own touch on the recordings. The best review he's heard was someone saying they sounded like Wilson Fairchild songs, but you could hear the Statlers in the recordings also.

"That's really feels like you are holding hands with both sides," Langdon said. "That's really special."

The duo also chose three other classic country songs, including George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today." Wilson Fairchild toured with Jones and knew they wanted one of his songs on this album. They also chose Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line." Cash was the musician who gave The Statler Brothers their start. And finally, "Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" is part of the album. Gaither had heard Wilson Fairchild sing that before and asked them to put it on the album.

There are also three gospel songs — "He Leadeth Me," "In the Garden" and "This Old House." Gospel music has always been important in the lives of Wil and Langdon.

"We felt that really represents and is a great portrait of who Wilson Fairchild is," Langdon said of the song choices. "It's the music that we've grown up with, that we know, that we love, that we still perform today in our shows."

Songs from the recording will be featured on Gaither Radio on Pandora, Gaither Radio on Amazon and Gaither Radio on Spotify. "A Statler Made" special premiere and the individual videos from the filming were released on the Gaither Music TV YouTube channel. Songs from the recording will air on numerous playlists, including Apple Music’s Front Porch Country Gospel collections.

"We finally feel like we are getting to where we were going," Langdon said. "And we really found a home with the Gaither Music Group."

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Wilson Fairchild lands on Billboard charts with latest album 'Statler Made.'