It was found tucked inside a worn leather Bible — a single envelope, yellowed at the edges, marked only with one line in Harold Reid’s familiar handwriting:
“To be opened when I’m gone.”
And now, just days after his passing, the world knows what The Statler Brothers’ legendary bass singer wanted to say in his final moments.
The letter was handwritten — no fanfare, no flourish. Just the voice of a man who had given his life to music, to laughter, to family, and to faith. And in the quiet of his own words, Harold Reid said goodbye on his own terms.
“If you’re reading this, I’ve just gone home,” the letter began. “Don’t make too much of it. I’ve been packing for a while.”
What followed was a mix of humor, humility, and the kind of gentle wisdom that only Harold could deliver.
“I’ve sung in every kind of room you can imagine — from backyard tents to presidential halls. But nothing on this earth ever felt as permanent as the moment I met Jesus.”
He thanked his brothers in the band — Don, Phil, Lew, and all those who walked the road with him. He thanked the fans, writing:
“You never just listened. You carried us. You let us tell your stories.”
And then, in a softer tone, he turned to his family:
“To my children and grandchildren — I know I wasn’t perfect. But if you saw faith in me, it was real. If you heard love in my voice, it was yours.”
But perhaps the most powerful line came near the end — the line that now echoes in the hearts of everyone who knew him:
“Don’t mourn too long. I haven’t gone far. I’ve just stepped off the stage… and into the arms of the One who gave me the music.”
The letter ends simply:
“I’ll see you when the curtain rises again. Until then — keep the harmony going.”
Signed,
Harold
There were no announcements, no televised farewells. Just a man of faith, a note of grace, and a reminder that some goodbyes are really just the first line of something eternal.
And now, as fans and family read his final words, one truth remains:
Harold Reid didn’t just sing gospel harmony…
He lived it.
And now, he’s home.