Jimmy Fortune in Concert

Jimmy Fortune toured, sang and performed with the legendary Statler Brothers for 21

years. He joined them first as a temporary replacement for Lew DeWitt, after DeWitt

heard him singing at a ski resort and recommended him. Following an audition in

Nashville, Jimmy was contacted by The Statler Brothers and performed his first show

with them on January 28, 1982, in Savannah, Georgia. Due to the debilitating effects of

Crohn’s Disease, Lew was unable to return to the stage with the Statlers, and Jimmy

was hired as a permanent replacement in August of 1982.

Fortune quickly lived up to his name. He wrote the group's second No. 1 hit, "Elizabeth,"

on their 1983 album Today, and followed that with two more No. 1 hits--"My Only Love"

(from 1984's Atlanta Blue) and "Too Much On My Heart" (from 1985's Pardners in

Rhyme). Fortune also wrote the top-10 hit "Forever" from 1986's Four for the Show and

co-wrote the top-10 hit "More Than a Name on a Wall" from 1988's The Greatest Hits.

Jimmy has performed in all of the U.S. States, in Canadian Provinces, and in front of

audiences as large as 100,000. He was part of the Statlers’ annual Happy Birthday USA

celebration in Staunton, Virginia, for 14 years. He also sang on many of the Statlers’

gold, platinum, and double platinum recordings. Jimmy’s career included The Nashville

Network’s popular “The Statler Brothers Show” which aired for seven seasons and

debuted in 1991 as the highest rated show for the network. Jimmy was privileged to

perform at the White House on two occasions, once for President Ronald Reagan, and

once for President George H. W. Bush. He also presented a special gift to actress

Elizabeth Taylor by singing his song “Elizabeth” to her for a birthday celebration.

Jimmy and The Statler Brothers were inducted into the GMA (Gospel Music Association)

Hall of Fame on October 29, 2007, and inducted into the CMA (Country Music

Association) Hall of Fame on June 29, 2008. Jimmy, as a solo artist, was inducted into

the Virginia Musical Hall of Fame in 2018.

After The Statler Brothers retired on October 26, 2002, Jimmy seized the opportunity to

launch a solo career to share new music with his fans. His first solo CD, When One

Door Closes, was released August 2003 on Audium/Koch. He released a gospel album,

I Believe, in June 2005, a Christmas CD, Feels Like Christmas, in 2006, a live concert

DVD in 2007 a country CD, “Windows” in 2009, “Lessons” in 2012.

In 2015 Jimmy teamed up with the Gaither Music Group and recorded “Hits and Hymns”

CD and DVD which debuted at #10 Billboard Country Album, #1 Southern Gospel, and

#6 Billboard Contemporary Christian. The DVD debuted at #1 on Billboard Music Video

charts. In 2017 he recorded a compilation of his favorite songs called “Jimmy Fortune

Sings the Classics” on the Gaither Music label and in May 2019 they also released his

latest solo project called “God and Country” which included a CD and DVD which one a

Dove Award in 2020 for Country/Gospel/Roots Album of the Year.

In 2020 Jimmy joined his friends Ben Isaacs, Mike Rogers and Bradley Walker

(Fortune/Walker/Rogers/Isaacs) in recording a quartet style project that included a CD

and DVD called Brotherly Love that debuted #16 Billboard (all genres) Top Album Sales

on 9-19-20.

Jimmy is currently living in Tennessee, writing, touring, and recording music.