Produced by Michael Sykes and Johnny Minick, the audio recording includes 13 tracks that blend country, gospel, folk, and early rock influences. In addition to classics like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Today I Started Loving You Again,” the album nods to The Statler Brothers’ legacy with “Hello Mary Lou,” continuing the musical thread that began with their fathers while firmly establishing Wilson Fairchild’s own voice.
The project also includes a moving, full-circle moment as the duo’s sons, Jack and Davis Reid, join them on The Statlers’ classic “I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You,” bringing a new generation into the harmony tradition that has defined their family for decades.
“Wil and Langdon are adding their own unique voices to the Statler family legacy and expanding it to a new generation, said Paul Sizelove, President of Sun Label Group and Gaither Music. “We are incredibly honored to partner with them and share their music and their story.”
Before stepping fully into their own spotlight, Wilson Fairchild spent nearly four years opening for George Jones and later recorded Songs Our Dads Wrote, a tribute to the songwriting of Don and Harold Reid. Their 2023 Gaither release Statler Made further cemented their place within the Gaither family of artists. With American Songbook, the duo widens the lens, celebrating not only their family roots but the broader American music canon that shaped their upbringing.
American Songbook: Country Classics and Gospel Favorites will be released as an audio album, full-length DVD, and a television special. The TV special will air on TBN, RFD-TV, The Word Network, Vision, TCT, The Walk TV, TLN, HopeTV, The Miracle Channel, CTS, CTN, and Heartland. A radio special will premiere on SiriusXM Radio, and music from the project will also be featured on Bill Gaither’s SiriusXM enLighten channel (Channel 150).
The full-length project will also be available to steam at Gaither TV+ or purchase the DVD and CD at Gaither.com. Purchase or stream the project here.
For high resolution, cover art and media assets here.
CD Track List
DVD Track List
About Wilson Fairchild:
Wilson Fairchild is a country music duo made up of Wil and Langdon Reid from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. These two men, referred to as “the Reid boys,” have been writing, performing and playing music together their whole lives. They come by their “entertainment chops” honestly: Wil’s dad is Harold Reid and Langdon’s dad is Don Reid of the legendary Statler Brothers.
Both highly acclaimed songwriters, Wil and Langdon have been writing songs and playing guitar since their teenage years and have written with chart toppers like Bryan Kennedy (Garth Brooks), Gordon Kennedy (Peter Frampton), Jeff Hyde (Eric Church) and more. Along with recording their own music, Ricky Skaggs, Dailey & Vincent and the Statler Brothers have recorded their songs. Their songwriting gamut spans the country, bluegrass and gospel fields. They learned from the best and are no strangers to knowing how to put an idea to music and come away with a great, storytelling song.
In 2018, Wil and Langdon started their own non-profit organization, Happy Birthday America, a two-day event July 3-4 in their hometown, Staunton, VA. Each year it grows, attracting thousands to come celebrate America in a small-town, big-time way!
Wil and Langdon opened for the late George Jones for nearly four years, have graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and have been featured on Larry’s Country Diner on RFD-TV. They continue carrying on a family legacy of great music, high energy performances and pure entertainment. They bridge the years from traditional country music to today. To sum up their passion and drive for their music and career, a self-penned line from their song “Country On” says it all: “We love country music and we’ll never let it die.”