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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZOAK RIDGE BOYSOriginal members were a gospel vocal quartet before WWII, re-formed '57 in Oak Ridge TN by Smitty Gatlin. They turned full-time pro '61 and broadened their appeal by turning to country music. Lineup since '80s included William Lee Golden (b 12 January 1939, Brewton AL), Richard Sterban (b 24 April 1943, Camden NJ), Duane Allen (b 29 April 1943, Taylortown TX), Joe Bonsall (b 18 May 1948, Philadelphia); the band included Mark Ellerbee, Harold Mitchell, Garland Craft, Don Breland. They won Gospel Music Association Dove award several times, Grammy awards '71 for 'Talk About The Good Times', '76 for 'Where The Soul Never Dies', CMA awards '78; chart hits included no. 1 'Cryin' Again' '78. Heavy touring, TV appearances kept them on top: no. 1 country hits '83-5 included 'American Made', 'Love Song', 'I Guess It Never Hurts To Cry Sometimes', 'Everyday', 'Make My Life With You', 'Little Things', 'Touch A Hand, Make A Friend'. LPs included Old Fashioned Gospel Quartet Music, All Our Favourite Songs, Smokey Mountain Gospel on Columbia, three vols of Spiritual Jubilee on Accord, Sensational on Starday. Albums on ABC-Dot: Room Service, Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived, Y'all Come Back Saloon '77, Together '78; hits on parent MCA label included Fancy Free, Bobbie Sue, American Made (no. 2 country LP) and Deliver (no. 6, both '83), Step On Out '85 (no. 3); Golden issued solo American Vagabond '86, was voted out of the group '87 with 'continuing musical and personal differences', replaced by band member Steve Sanders (b 17 September 1952, Richland GA). More albums were Where The Fast Lane Ends '87, Monongahela '88, New Horizons '89 on MCA; they switched to RCA for Unstoppable '91, The Long Haul '92. Sanders's marital problems saw his former wife attacking his girlfriend; this got out of hand by early '96 and he left the group replaced by returning Golden, differences forgotten. In 2023 the band had had 12 gold albums, three platinum albums and one double-platinum, as well as dozens of hits in the Billboard country chart, most in the top ten. The hits had slowed down, but they were still a big touring act. Fans were loyal, but none more than 97-year-old Mary Wheat, who had followed them all over the country since 1976, when her mother took her to a show; Una talked her way backstage to get an autograph for her granddaughter Judy, who thought some of the musicians were cute. Now all the roadies, concessionaires etc know Mary and she's considered family. Bonsall brought her up on stage in Virginia Beach in January, introducing her to the crowd saying, 'Her mother followed us until she was 105.' (Thanks to Colin Warren-Hicks in the Virginian-Pilot) |