When Harold Reid hopped in a car with his bandmates to see a Johnny Cash concert, little did he know that the encounter with the Man in Black would lead to their big breakthrough.
Mr Reid, who has died at the age of 80 after a long battle with kidney failure, attended the show in Roanoke, North Carolina, in 1964 with his brother, Don Reid, Lew DeWitt and Phil Balsley.
Together, they were known as The Statler Brothers and had been performing together for nearly 10 years.
By that time, Cash was a big star having enjoyed success with Don’t Take Your Guns To Town and I Walk The Line.
Impressed by the group, the country legend invited them to open his show in Berryville, Virgina.
The gig kick-started their impressive career and helped secure them a deal with Columbia Records.
Mr Reid was born on August 21, 1939, in Virginia and began singing gospel music with his band mates in 1955 using the name the Four Star Quartet.
In 1962, member Joe McDonrman was replaced with Mr Reid’s brother – Don Reid – with the group eventually settling on the Statler Brothers name.
As bass singer and founder, Mr Reid was integral to the group’s success.
The Grammy award winning country band were best known for their hit single Flowers on the Wall, which was released in 1966.
The catchy tune earned them two Grammy Awards and 30 years later the song’s popularity exploded again after it was played in 1994 Quentin Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction.
The soundtrack sold more than one million copies and suddenly younger generations became aware of the group.
Releasing a statement on their website, the band said: “Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers passed away April 24, 2020.
“He had bravely endured a long battle with kidney failure. He is and will always be loved by his family, friends and millions of fans.
“His singing, his songwriting and his comedy made generations happy. He has taken a piece of our hearts with him.”