The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
Group from United States
Genres: country, pop, southern gospel
About The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American vocal quartet. From 2023, the group consists of Duane Allen (lead), Ben James (tenor), William Lee Golden (baritone), and Richard Sterban (bass). The group was founded in 1943 as the country and gospel act Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers but were soon known as The Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel in the 1950s and their name was changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the 1960s. They transitioned from traditional southern gospel to contemporary gospel before going into popular music in the mid-1970s. The lineup that produced their most well-known hits ― such as "Elvira", "Bobbie Sue", and "American Made" ― included Allen, Golden, Sterban, and Joe Bonsall. Golden and Allen joined the group in the mid-1960s, and Sterban and Bonsall in the early 1970s. After years of acrimony, Golden was dismissed in 1987 and Steve Sanders took over until quitting the act in 1995; Golden was re-signed at the end of that year. Bonsall retired in mid-December of 2023 and was replaced by Ben James. The Oaks were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
Taken from Wikipedia.org