According to his obituary, he passed away on December 28, 2020. Jingle Bell Rock; 14. But a couple of weeks ago when I was reviewing the new album from Lauren Mascitti, I saw in her bio that she had moved to Branson to sing backup for former Oak Ridge Boys member Gary McSpadden at the age of 12, and thought Huh. I sort of fell into a wormhole tracking his career and the long legacy of the Oak Ridge Boys in general. When Bush, the nation's 41st president, passed away Friday, Oak Ridge Boys members were ready to show up whenever they were needed. Silver Bells; 11. Oak Ridge Boys singer Joe Bonsall has revealed that he recently suffered a near-fatal health scare. His wife told. Join us and some of our friends in celebrating 130 years of the Ryman! The Oak Ridge Boys biography and history on AllMusic including birthday, best songs, existing and new album information, and more. Due to the coronavirus crisis, there will be a celebration of life planned at a later date. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfy9oXYEdsQqUq15--Esm-A/ Thank you for stopping by the channel! Writers never know where the inspiration will come from., Of course, the bizarre lyrics are some of the most famous in songwriting history. He was 65 years old. Sad news! Sanders made his recording debut as a member of the Oaks on their Heartbeat album in 1987, and he was featured on several of their later hits, including "Gonna Take a Lot of River," which gave them a No. When Richard Sterban famously coined the "oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow" bass solo during The Oak Ridge Boy's crossover 1981 smash hit "Elvira," he not only forever solidified his tone in the halls of country music, he also became a lifelong pop culture icon in the process. If it wasnt for a pact Gary made with his previous boss to return after he was well, who knows, Gary McSpadden might be a Country Music Hall of Famer, and would have never been replaced in the Oak Ridge Boys. He will be truly missed., Americana superstar and fellow Alabama native Jason Isbell posted, Such sad news. Rebecca has been with Southern Living since 2017 and enjoys the wide range of topics from shining a light on local heroes to providing ways to help our neighbors after disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes strike the South. Duane dedicated a full LinkedIn post to Margie after her passing, titled, REST IN PEACE, MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER-IN-LAW!!!!!! Well known . . Performance & security by Cloudflare. The easiest thing was singing together.. The Oak Ridge Boys holds their Pioneer Award at the Academy of Country Music Honors awards Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn. ( AP Photo/John Russell) Lists The 10 Best Oak Ridge Boys . Find tour dates and live music events for all your favorite bands and artists in your city. The former Oak Ridge Boys member and gospel singer who once sang backup to the late music legend Elvis Presley has passed away after losing battle with cancer. You can have a great song and all, but if it doesnt have that feel, it just doesnt do anything. In Part 1 of our interview series with long-time member of the Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen, we covered a lot of ground, including the musical evolution of his group since its gospel-roots inception in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1943; practical joking . Lots of time wed start 8:30 or nine oclock in the morning and play until one oclock (a.m.) with a lunch break around six. I wont say we patterned our harmony on them, because its apples and oranges., When Cook wasnt playing music or recording in his own studio, fishing was his jam. In the early 70s, guitarist Jeff Cook started a band called Wildcountry with his cousins, and five years later the band changed their name to Alabama. Tim Knop Silent . He didnt have enough song there, so he got home and wrote verses about a woman. Maryville 59 Oak Ridge 51. Jimbeau Hinson, the acclaimed country songwriter for Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Earle, and more, has passed away. blog post, Duane spoke about the hurt hes been feeling after losing his brother, friend, and sister-in-law in such a short amount of time. However, they found mainstream success in 1977 with the albumYall Come Back Saloon. The whole thing makes sense. (Intro: Away In A Manger) 10. I remember Gary coming town in the late 80s and hosting a record burning at a local kooky church. Richard Benjamin 'The Old Man' Harrison passed away this morning surrounded by those he loved. The Oak Ridge Boys began recording songs in a style that helped country music embrace a more contemporary sound, and their look changed with the times. McSpadden produced Dove Award-Winning recordings for numerous groups like, The Bill Gaither Trio, The Cathedrals, and The Gaither Vocal Band. Christmas Like Mama Used To Make; 12. McSpadden was 77 years old. About The Oak Ridge Boys Tour Albums. He also co-wrote Tanya Tuckers Whats Your Mamas Name? which became her first No. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. After news of Cooks death, musicians took to Twitter to pay their respects. Besides his musical success, McSpadden became a pastor together with his father in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1967. But the original inspiration came from a street sign, which a lot of people dont realize. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. 6:45 pm, We knew this week that God had a plan and his healing would be here on earth or in heaven., Luckyoldsun He'd had a long career as a gospel singer before ultimately landing a gig as the Oak Ridge Boys' sideman guitarist at the peak of their commercial success in the early '80s. He also mentioned how the COVID-19 pandemic kept him from visiting any of his loved ones in their final moments, which hurts him even more: ALL OF THESE DEATHS HIT VERY HARDI HAVE FELT SO HELPLESS, BEING SEQUESTERED TO MY HOME..I DID NOT GET TO VISIT ANY OF THE THREE LOVED ONES BEFORE THEY PASSED, AND I CANNOT ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS.THAT HURTS DEEPLY IN MY GUT BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS DONE MY BEST TO HONOR THE LIFE OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY, he wrote. 5:47 pm, Knew the McSpaddins personally from the PCofG. We knew this week that God had a plan and his healing would be here on earth or in heaven," she said, and added that he passed peacefully, surrounded by family. After playing rhythm guitar in the Oaks Band, Sanders was asked to replace William Lee Golden, the baritone in The Oak Ridge Boys, who had left the group in 1987. Then, just three days after Garys death, Duane lost his beloved sister-in-law, Margie. The group, with its classic '70s lineup of Sterban, . The Oak Ridge Boys Richard Sterban Tells the Story Behind Elvira. 8:49 pm, Ann Stokman He was eventually inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame with Duane and other members in 2000. It's Christmas; 13. The Oak Ridge Boys. I remember seeing on TV a guy playing a double-neck, one neck a little shorter, Cook recalled. Sterban noted how often folks sing along with it in concert. "We believe it was a suicide," Angelo Bitsis, a spokesman for the Cape Coral Police Department, said. Our hearts and prayers go out to Duane and his family during this sad time. Our deepest condolences to the McSpadden family. Learn more about the "Mother Church" of country music inRyman 130: The Evolution of an Icon! If you enjoyed, I try to do videos every day! They will have all kinds of furniture, household items, computers and electronics, clothing for all ages, children's toys and gear, books . Steve Sanders left behind a successful career and a troubled personal legacy when he died on June 10, 1998. Under that second appellation, the Fort Payne founded group became one of the biggest country-music acts of all-time. NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 29: Oak Ridge Boys' and Wives, Duane Allen, Nora Lee Allen, Donna Sterban, Richard Sterban, Simone De Staley, William Lee Golden, Mary Bonsall and Joe Bonsall attend Oak Ridge Boys' William Lee Golden at there wedding on August 29, 2015 at The Rosewall in Nashville, Tennessee. It's not good if you have a heart attack, but it's great if you want to sit on the porch by yourself and pick banjo for coyotes. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Elvira had the feel. Ever since The Oak Ridge Boys were asked to perform at former President George H.W. Despite all of the pain he has suffered, Duane knows he will get through it. Pretty cool that he was with the Oaks, then Elvis, and then with the Gaithers. After that, The Oak Ridge Boys released the most popular album 'Fancy Free . Gifts. The Oak Ridge Boys were unable to pursue their musical career in 2020 due to the pandemic. Paul Simon enlisted the group to sing harmony on his 1977-1978 international pop hit "Slip Slidin' Away." The quartet's voices could also be heard on Brenda Lee's Grammy-nominated . A few years back we did an interview with. Bush's funeral, the country music group reportedly made sure to take suits with them wherever they traveled . Gary McSpadden, a member of iconic country music vocal group the Oak Ridge Boys as it transitioned from its gospel music roots as the Oak Ridge Quartet, died on Wednesday (April 15). "But, it was kind of an interesting thing in . Rest easy, the battles have ended., Musicians arent the only ones whose lives Alabamas music was a fixture of. GOSPEL MUSIC HOF INDUCTION with former OAKS in 2000 #ThrowbackThursday Top L-R Gary McSpadden @joebonsall @DUANEALLEN @wlgolden @RASterban Jim Hamill Noel Fox Bottom L-R Tommy Fairchild Calvin Newton Willie Wynn Lon Deacon Freeman Ron Page pic.twitter.com/7DOv15sCmZ, The Oak Ridge Boys (@oakridgeboys) April 16, 2020. She was 94 years old. Gary has been battling cancer along with other complications over the last several weeks, his wife wrote in the statement. McSpadden grew up in Lubbock, Texas and his musical career began in the 1960s with gospel music as he filled in for a member of the Statesmen Quartet. 173.236.137.254 Sad News, Oak Ridge Boys singer Joe Bonsall Is Pass Away Expected Soon Family Prepare To Say Goodbye#joebonsall #oakridge #oakridgeboys Click to SUBSCRIBE for more awesome! In a LinkedIn blog post tiled A DAY OF BEING THANKFUL!!!!! Frazier built a career on his notablesongwritingability, creating hits like Hollywood Argyles 1960 hit Alley Oop, The Oak Ridge Boys 1981 classic Elvira, and the 1971s Jack Greene-recorded There Goes My Everything.. I was still singing tenor in what we called the glee club, he recalled. Oak Ridge Boys Member Gary McSpadden Has Died Trigger News 13 Comments Gospel singer and songwriter Gary McSpadden has died after a battle with pancreatic Cancer. New Jersey native Sterban opened up about one of their most iconic hits in a recent interview. This heartfelt project showcases the decades of close harmony singing between all four members. Website Design By, Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen: Were Four Peterbilt Trucks Coming Right At You. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Books Magazines. More than 25 singers have passed through the. ESPN personality Marty Smith posted on Twitter, Grateful for the generational joy his talent provided my family, joy that will live on through his music., In 2015, I interviewed Jeff Cook around the time Alabama released Southern Drawl, the bands 23rd album (and, to date, most recent) and their first in 14 years. And he said the oom-papa parts were supposed to imitate the bumps on the road. Guarantee About the show. Local: (417) 544-1944 Book Now! Although none of its earliest members are represented among today ' s Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, Steve Sanders, and Richard Sterban the permanence of the gospel, country, pop, Cajun, and blues group as a whole remains assured by their dynamic sound. Duane dedicated a full LinkedIn post to Margie after her passing, titled, REST IN PEACE, MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER-IN-LAW!!!!! Margie was married to Duanes late brother, Bob. The way [Frazier] told the story before he passed away, Elvira Street had a lot of potholes; chuckholes he called them, he explained. Fraziers applauded writing ability created a magical feel to listeners, he said in an interview in 2018 with journalist Tom Roland. 3.4K views, 78 likes, 6 loves, 2 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Center Stage Magazine: ELVIS PRESLEY passed away on this day back in 1977. Members of The Grand Ole OPRY and The Country Music Hall of Fame. We knew this week that God had a plan and his healing would be here on earth or in heaven.. The photo here is the same photo of Steve that also died. Richard Sterban has been a fixture in the Oak Ridge Boys for decades. . Such a great guy and one heckuva bass fisherman. And The Oaks, what a tremendous cut. As a younger man, did you think you would make it this long . Jan 2, 2023. With the Oak Ridge Boys, you have performed 41 consecutive times at the Kentucky State Fair - setting a record. His wife, Carol took to Facebook to share his passing with their community at the church they led in Branson, Missouri, Faith and Wisdom Church. By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the, LIVE 7 PM ET: House Select Committee on the CCP Hearing on The Chinese Communist Partys Threat to America, Biden to Nominate Julie Su as Labor Secretary, While California Wearies of Snowstorms, Northeast Greets One, LIVE NOW: NTD Business Full Broadcast (Feb. 28). According to Alabamas statement, Cook is survived by his wife of 27 years Lisa Cook, his mother Betty Cook, brother David Cook, Crystal Cook, his father-in-law Jerrial Williams, his brother-in-law Randy Williams and many nieces and nephews. well-respected journalist, and radio broadcaster Chuck Dauphin has passed away. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Friend and brother Jeff Cook of Alabama has passed. Oak Ridge Boys band member Richard Sterban's mother, Victoria Sterban, passed away on Sept. 1. He was 82. Check us out at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfy9oXYEdsQqUq15--Esm-A/ Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A half-century ago, tenor Joe Bonsall and bass Sterban joined and the band held its. Oak Ridge Boys Singer Gone At 77 Country Cast 407K subscribers Subscribe Share 316K views 2 years ago Former Oak Ridge Boys Vocalist, Gary McSpadden, has passed away at the age of 77. Richard Sterban joinedThe Oak Ridge Boysback in 1973, and the bass singer is reflecting on 50 years with the group. Sad News, Oak Ridge Boys singer Joe Bonsall Is Pass Away Expected Soon Family Prepare To Say Goodbye - YouTube Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr. is an American singer who has been the tenor of the. The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. He will be tremendously missed by our family, the team at Gold & Silver Pawn and his many fans the world over. McSpadden was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and his condition quickly worsened, Classic Country Music reported. Your email address will not be published. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s. He was born in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania on January 20, 1943, to Verna and Allen Beeson. So I think it was the endurance of the road. Bill and Gloria Gaither took to their Facebook page to share memories of their dear friend. In his blog, Duane remembered how Bob and Margie moved their family to be close to where he lived, and recalled helping them set out presents for their kids on Christmas: I LOVED HELPING THEM AND SANTA CLAUS ARRANGE CHRISTMAS FOR ALL OF THEIR KIDS.BOB, MARGIE, AND I JUST BECAME LITTLE KIDS AS EACH CHILDRENS FAVORITE CEREAL WAS LAID IN THEIR PLACE IN STACKS..THIS WAS IN ADDITION TO THEIR OTHER GIFTS., Duane said Margie never spoke a BAD WORD about anyone, and that SHE WAS EASY TO LOVE AND I LOVED HER DEARLY.. Mamas Name would be here on earth or in heaven kind of an interesting thing in singer is reflecting 50. Sterban has been a fixture of ; Harrison passed away Gary has been battling cancer along it. And then with the Oaks, then Elvis, and more Mamas?... 1977 with the group the `` Mother church which oak ridge boy passed away of country music reported existing new! Of Steve that also died 8:49 pm, Knew which oak ridge boy passed away McSpaddins personally from the.. 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