The Oak Ridge Boys are a country and gospel group that is based in the United States. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure A native of Taylortown Texas, Duane Allen (born Apr 29, 1943) had formal training in both operatic and quartet singing before becoming a member of Joe Bonsall (born May 18, 1948 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is a member of the Oak Ridge Boys, and in 2003 published GI Joe and Lillie William Lee Golden (born January 12, 1939) a native of Brewton Alabama, is an American Country music singer Richard Sterban (born April 24, 1943) is an American bass singer from Camden New Jersey, who joined the country and gospel The Oak Ridge Boys are a country and gospel group that is based in the United States. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The group was founded in 1945 as the Oak Ridge Quartet. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar They became popular during the 1950s. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive Their name was changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s, and they remained a gospel-oriented group until the late 1970s, when they changed their image and concentrated more on country and pop music. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure The band's current lineup consists of lead singer (second tenor) Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden, tenor Joe Bonsall, and bass Richard Sterban. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. William Lee Golden (born January 12, 1939) a native of Brewton Alabama, is an American Country music singer The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice

The Oak Ridge Quartet

The core group that would eventually lead to the Oak Ridge Boys first recorded together in 1943 as Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. When Wally Fowler decided to focus on gospel music, he formed the Oak Ridge Quartet with himself, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey, and Johnny New. The Oak Ridge Boys are a country and gospel group that is based in the United States. In 1949 the other three men split from Fowler to form a new group and Fowler hired an existing group, the Calvary Quartet, to re-form the Oak Ridge Quartet. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1957, Fowler sold the rights to the "Oak Ridge Quartet" name to group member Smitty Gatlin in exchange for forgiveness of a debt. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) As a result of more personnel changes, the group lost its tenor, so they lowered their arrangements and had Gatlin sing tenor while the pianist, Tommy Fairchild, sang lead. In Music, an arrangement refers either to a rewriting of a piece of existing Music with additional new material or to a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch such They recorded an album for Cadence Records, then in 1958 they hired Willie Wynn to sing the tenor part, Fairchild moved back exclusively to the piano. An album or record album is a collection of related audio or Music tracks distributed to the public Cadence Records was an American Record company based in New York City. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. At this point the group consisted of Fairchild at the piano, Wynn, Gatlin (singing lead), baritone Ron Page, and bass Herman Harper. They recorded an album on the Checker Records label, one on Starday, and three on Skylite. Checker Records was started in 1952 as In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Starday Records was a Record label producing traditional Country music during the 1950s and 1960s. Skylite is a Memphis based Gospel music label started by The Statesmen Quartet and The Blackwood Brothers in 1959 In 1961, Gatlin changed the group's name to "the Oak Ridge Boys" because their producer, Bud Praeger, thought "Oak Ridge Quartet" sounded too old-fashioned for their contemporary sound. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing

1962-1973

In 1962, Ron Page quit, and the group hired Gary McSpadden (who had filled in for Jake Hess in the Statesmen quartet) as baritone with the understanding from Hess that when he was ready to start a group, he would recruit McSpadden. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jake Hess ( December 24, 1927 - January 4, 2004) was a Grammy Award -winning gospel singer in the southern United No other name is associated with the foundation of the modern day quartet than that of Hovie Lister & the Statesmen Quartet They then recorded another album on Skylite, and then two groundbreaking albums on Warner Brothers after which McSpadden quit when Jake Hess followed through on his promise to hire McSpadden and invited him to join a new group he was forming, the Imperials. Warner Bros Records Inc is an American Record label that operates as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Warner Music Group. The Imperials are a four time Grammy winning American Gospel music group and a member of the Gospel Jim Hammill (later a mainstay in the Kingsmen Quartet) was chosen to be his replacement. They made one album for Festival Records, one for Stateswood (Skylite's budget label), and two more for Skylite. Hammill did not get along with the rest of the group, and William Lee Golden, a fan, thought that Hammill was hurting the group and recommended himself as baritone. Fans in Little Italyjpg|thumb|right|Fans in Little Italy Manhattan celebrating the victory of the Italian association football team after the 2006 FIFA World Cup]][[Image Wm-oly-de-cr Golden joined the group in Janurary 1965. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.

The group recorded another album for Starday and another on Skylite in 1965. In 1966, Gatlin left the group to become a minister of music and, on Golden's recommendation, Duane Allen, formerly of the Southernairs (and more recently baritone of the Prophets), was hired to replace him. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. With Willie Wynn still singing tenor and Herman Harper as bass, the group made another album for Skylite, one for United Artists, and then began recording on the Heart Warming label. United Artists Records was a Record label founded by Max E Youngstein of United Artists in 1958 initially to distribute Soundtracks Heart Warming was a gospel Record label started by Bob Benson and his father John T Between 1966 and 1973 they made 12 albums with Heart Warming, and the company also released several compilation albums on which they were included during those years. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. A compilation album is an Album ( Music or Spoken-word) featuring tracks from one or multiple Recording artists, often culled from a variety of The group also had an album on Vista (Heart Warming's budget label) that included unreleased songs from previous sessions. Harper left the group in 1968 to join the Don Light Talent before starting his own company, The Harper Agency, which remains one of the most highly-reputable booking agencies in gospel music. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Noel Fox, formerly of the Tennesseeans and the Harvesters, took over the bass part. In 1970, the Oak Ridge Boys earned their first Grammy for "Talk About the Good Times". Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

In late 1972 (possibly October), Richard Sterban, the bass with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet left that group and joined the Oak Ridge Boys. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Daniel "J D" Sumner ( November 19, 1924 - November 16, 1998) was an American singer and songwriter Two Stamps and A Baxter A series of significant events in the 1920s launched a legendary name in United States in Gospel music. This closely followed what was possibly the Stamps Quartet's most famous moment, backing Elvis Presley in his 10 June 1972 concert at Madison Square Garden. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A concert is a live Performance, usually of Music, before an Audience. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. Joe Bonsall, a Philadelphia native who was a member of the Keystone Quartet and recording on Duane Allen's Superior label, joined in October of 1973 (coincidentally, both Sterban and Bonsall had been members of the Keystones during the late '60's, recording much of the ORB's material). Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. That same year the Oak Ridge Boys recorded a single with Johnny Cash and the Carter Family, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup", that put them on the country charts for the first time. Johnny Cash (born J R Cash; February 26 1932 - September 12 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American country Singer-songwriter. The Carter Family was a Country music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956 Record chart are a method of ranking Music according to Popularity during a given period of time The group's lineup would remain consistent for the next 15 years.

1974-1986

After opening a series of shows for Roy Clark, the Oak Ridge Boys moved to the Columbia label in 1973 and made three albums and some singles there. Roy Linwood Clark (born 15 April 1933, Meherrin Virginia, United States is a versatile and well-known Country music Musician Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. They went from being one of the top acts on Heart Warming to nearly the bottom on Columbia in terms of promotion. An entertainment promoter is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting Concerts Festivals Raves Nightclubs or They cut some good material there, but Columbia did not service the gospel radio stations like Heart Warming did. This made many people think the group was leaving gospel music, which hurt the group's popularity among their core fan demographic. Promoting their single, "Heaven Bound," the Oak Ridge Boys made appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show, both nationally syndicated in the United States and Canada. The Mike Douglas Show was an American daytime Television Talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that ran from 1961 to 1982 The Merv Griffin Show was a long-running American Television talk show, starring singer Merv Griffin. Despite being picked by Paul Simon to sing backup on "Slip Slidin' Away", Columbia met the boys request to be released from their contract in 1976 when their single Family Reunion was only a lukewarm success. Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13 1941 is an American Songwriter, Musician, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their next move was to make a live album that was a mix of gospel and country on their own label.

In 1977, the Oak Ridge Boys fully switched from gospel to country with the release of their first ABC Records (later absorbed by MCA) album, Y'all Come Back Saloon. ABC Records started in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records the record label of Am-Par Record Corporation (a subsidiary of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group 's Country music subsidiary That album gave them two songs that reached the top five on the charts, and their next album, Room Service gave them two more, in addition to their first #1 hit, "I'll Be True to You". They released two more albums by the spring of 1980, and a compilation album simply titled Greatest Hits, containing 10 singles from the previous four albums, was released in the fall of 1980.

The group's sixth album, Fancy Free, released early in 1981, contained the Dallas Frazier-penned song "Elvira". Dallas Frazier (born October 27, 1939 in Spiro Oklahoma) is an American Country musician and Songwriter. " Elvira " is a Song written by Dallas Frazier Originally recorded and released by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, the song later became a famous As of 2007 it remains the group's most widely known song and Fancy Free remains their best selling album to date. The song had been recorded by other artists, including Frazier himself in the late 1960s and Kenny Rogers in 1970, but the Oak Ridge Boys were the first ones to have a hit with it. Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston Texas) is an American Country music Singer-songwriter Their version of the song would become a #1 country hit, and reach #5 on the pop charts as well, in July 1981.

The doo-wop-style title track from Bobbie Sue, their seventh album, was another crossover hit, reaching #1 on the country charts and #12 on the pop charts. Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based Rhythm and blues music which developed in African-American communities in the 1940s and which achieved mainstream popularity both in the 1950s A title track is a Song which shares its name with the album on which it appears Crossover is a term applied to Musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the Record charts which track differing musical tastes or genres The album also spawned the group's first U. S. -released music video, for the song "So Fine". A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics (A video was made for "Easy", from the Y'All Come Back Saloon album, but was never released in the U. S. ) In addition to Bobbie Sue, the group also recorded a Christmas album and their American Made album in 1982.

The American Made album, released in January 1983, created a bit of controversy when the title track became the source of a TV ad for Miller Beer. Miller Brewing Company is the second largest American style Beermaker and is based in Milwaukee Wisconsin, United States. Its opening lines say:

My baby is American made

Born and bred in the USA

Miller's ads used slightly different words:

Miller's made the American way

Born and brewed in the USA

When the song was recut, the Oak Ridge Boys would not sing it and did not want it used, but had no part in the decision.

The group made three albums over the next three years, one of which was a second Greatest Hits album with only two new cuts on it. The late 1983 album Deliver, contained two #1 singles, one of which, "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes", was written by Randy VanWarmer, who had a hit in 1979 with "Just When I Needed You Most". Randy VanWarmer ( March 30, 1955 &ndash January 12, 2004) was an American Songwriter and Guitarist. The group recorded two albums in 1986, one of which was a second Christmas album, and in 1987 they recorded a single called "Take Pride in America", which was used in television public service announcements about recycling. A public service announcement (PSA or community service announcement (CSA is a non-commercial advertisement broadcast on radio or television ostensibly for the Public Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials reduce

1987-1996

In 1987 Where The Fast Lane Ends was released. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) It was the first with new producer Jimmy Bowen and was the group's last album before the 1987 departure of William Lee Golden. Golden's departure was preceded by much discussion, both by the public and other members of the group, about his "mountain man" appearance and lifestyle after he stopped cutting his hair and beard altogether as well as his cutting solo material. Golden complained that he felt like the "odd man out". When he was replaced by the band's guitarist, Steve Sanders, he sued the group but eventually settled out of court.

The group released four more albums for MCA, including a third Greatest Hits album that contained a previously unreleased single they had recorded for the Take Pride In America campaign. They then switched labels to RCA and made three albums there, including Best Of The Oak Ridge Boys which included a single they had made for the My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys movie soundtrack. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. Unfortunately, the move to RCA did not work out because the person who had signed them there moved to another label shortly thereafter, and his replacement wanted to promote Alabama more than the Oak Ridge Boys. RCA Corporation, founded as Radio Corporation of America, was an electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986 Alabama is a Grammy Award -winning Country music band that originated in Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. They switched again and signed with Liberty Records, (Capitol's Nashville-based label). Liberty Records was a United States -based Record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as They made their third Christmas album there.

Baritone Steve Sanders had been dealing with personal problems (including serious issues with his ex-wife) for some time, and they were increasingly becoming problems for the rest of the group as well. He gave notice in late 1995, but then walked out before fulfilling it and left the group mere hours before a concert without a baritone. The group called Duane Allen's son, Dee, to fly there and fill in; he did so for the remainder of the year, with occasional help from his brother-in-law Paul Martin. (Martin had previously replaced J. P. Pennington as lead singer of Exile in the early 1990s until that band's disbansion. Exile, originally known as The Exiles, is an American band They originally began as a Pop rock group hitting the peak of their success in 1978 with the ) At midnight on New Year's Day 1996, in Indiana, Golden returned to the group. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union That year they made a two disc gospel set, "Revival" (their first full gospel album since 1976) with Leon Russell producing. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2 1942 in Lawton Oklahoma, United States) is a Singer, Songwriter This was sold on TV and later by the Oak Ridge Boys themselves at concerts and through the mail.

1997 to the present

Over the next few years, the group collaborated on an album with polka instrumentalist Jimmy Sturr and then made an album for Platinum Records called Voices. The polka is a fast lively Central European Dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas Jimmy Sturr is a Polka musician Trumpeter / Clarinetist / Saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra.

After spending many years dealing with problems such as labels that did not seem to want to promote them, studio breakdowns, and record companies going out of business, their fortunes changed when they signed with Spring Hill Records in 2000. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. In the first four years of teaming with Dove Award-winning producer Michael Sykes, they made a full length gospel album (From The Heart), another Christmas album (Inconvenient Christmas), a patriotic album (Colors), a bluegrass album (The Journey), and recorded gospel songs to be added to a special edition version of From The Heart that was available only from Feed The Children. The Gospel Music Association (GMA Dove Awards were created in 1969 by the Gospel Music Association to honor the outstanding achievements in Christian music Patriotism is commonly defined as love of and/or devotion to one's country Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. Feed The Children founded in 1979 is a Christian, international Non-profit relief organization whose stated mission is "to deliver food medicine clothing Later, to recoup some of the costs of making the album for Feed the Children, the label took those new songs, two from The Journey, and freshly cut versions of some of their previous gospel hits to make up their 2005 Common Thread album. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They then made another Christmas album and had plans to record Fresh Cuts, which would have contained some new songs and some newly recorded versions of some of their hits. These plans were stalled by MCA releasing some of their country hits on a new compilation.

In 2006 the group completed a new album, Front Row Seats, on Spring Hill Records. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The album is a return to mainstream country music with modern arrangements and song selection. Mainstream is generally the common current of Thought of the Majority.

Deaths of former members

Oak Ridge founder Wally Fowler, 77, suffered an apparent heart attack and drowned while fishing on June 3, 1994. Longtime lead singer Smitty Gatlin died in 1972 at the young age of 37, following a bout with cancer. Cat Freeman, tenor who replaced Allred, succumbed to a fatal heart attack in 1989 at 67. Herman Harper, the bass from the group's early years, died in December 1993. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Joe Allred, tenor during the early 1950s, died in 1997. Steve Sanders, baritone from 1987 through 1995, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 10 June 1998. The term ballistic trauma (generally referred to by the type of weapon such as gunshot wound, etc Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Noel Fox, bass singer from 1969 through 1972, died at age 63 on 10 April 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee, after surgery following a series of strokes. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē, via chirurgiae meaning "hand work" is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain Lon "Deacon" Freeman, the last surviving original member of the Oak Ridge, died at the age of 82 on July 20, 2003. Big Jim Hamill, after a long period of declining health, passed away in November 2007.

Discography

Personnel

• Curly Kinsey [Bass] 1945-1947
• Lon "Deacon" Freeman [Baritone / Guitar] 1945-1949
• Wally Fowler [Lead] 1945-1952
• Little Johnny New [Tenor] 1945-1949; 1952
• Curley Blaylock [Bass] 1947-1949
• Boyce Hawkins [Piano] 1949
• Bob Weber [Bass] 1949-1956
• Pat Patterson [Baritone] 1949-1952 / [Lead] 1952-1953
• Joe Allred [Tenor] 1949-1954 (Left briefly in 1952)
• Bobby Whitfield [Piano] 1950-1952; 1954-1956
• Bob Prather [Baritone) 1952
• Glen Allred [Guitar / Vocals] 1951-1952
• Carlos Cook [Lead] 1952-1953 / [Baritone] 1953-1954
• Calvin Newton [Lead] 1953-1956
• Cat Freeman [Tenor] 1954-1956
• Les Roberson [Baritone] 1955-56
• Steven Kurk [Tenor 1956-1957]
• Bill Smith [Bass] 1957
• Ronnie Page [Baritone] 1957-1962
• Smitty Gatlin [Lead] 1957-1958; 1959-1966 / [Tenor] 1958-1959
• Hobert Evans [Tenor] 1957-1958
• Wallace "Happy" Edwards [Tenor] Fill-In 1958
• Bobby Clark [Tenor] 1958
• Powell Hassell [Piano] 1957-1958
• Herman Harper [Bass] 1957-1969
• Tommy Fairchild [Lead] 1958-1959 / [Piano] 1959-1960; 1961-1972
• Little Willie Wynn [Tenor] 1959-1973
• Gary Trusler [Piano] 1960
• James Goss [Piano] 1960
• Gary McSpadden [Baritone] 1962-1964
• Big Jim Hamill [Baritone] 1964-1965
• William Lee Golden [Baritone] 1965-1987; 1995-Present
• Duane Allen [Lead] 1966-Present
• Noel Fox [Bass] 1969-1972
• Richard Sterban [Bass] 1972-Present
• Tony Brown [Piano] 1972-1975
• Joe Bonsall [Tenor] 1973-Present
• Steve Sanders [Baritone] 1987-1995
• Dee Allen [Baritone] Fill-in, late 1995
• Paul Martin [Baritone] Fill-in, late 1995

External links

• Oak Ridge Boys.com - Official website
• 'The Oak Ridge Boys' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
• Oak Ridge Boys biography at the Country Music Television website