The Oak Ridge Boys

With roots stretching back further than most ensembles in the genre, the Oak Ridge Boys began as a gospel quartet that steadily updated its approach and shifted toward mainstream country-pop. Even during their commercial peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when their popularity carried them onto pop lists, the quartet's core remained anchored in country-gospel vocal blends. Their story reaches to the World War II era, around 1942-1943, when musicians from Knoxville, Tennessee, started singing sacred material near Oak Ridge, site of an atomic research site. Those same performers also appeared as part of the larger Wally Fowler & the Georgia Clodhoppers, a Capitol Records act. In 1945, however, lead vocalist Fowler chose to concentrate exclusively on gospel, forming the Oak Ridge Quartet that debuted at the Grand Ole Opry the same year and cut its earliest sides in 1947 with Fowler, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey, and Johnny New.

Frequent membership changes followed, most dramatically in 1949 when the full roster parted ways with Fowler; he promptly recruited the Bob Weber-led Calvary Quartet to carry the Oak Ridge name forward. Anchored by Fowler and Weber with a rotating roster of supporting singers, the act became a leading attraction on the Southern gospel circuit through the close of 1956. Fowler then dissolved the quartet and transferred the name to member Smitty Gatlin, who assembled a fresh lineup in early 1957. Gatlin retitled the group the Oak Ridge Boys in 1961, turned the ensemble into a full-time professional outfit, and began refreshing its recorded sound with richer arrangements plus touches of country and folk. William Lee Golden, who would become a central figure, entered as baritone in 1964; when Gatlin stepped away two years later to devote himself to ministry, the remaining members, acting on Golden's suggestion, brought in former Southernaires singer Duane Allen to handle lead vocals.

Supported by bass vocalist Noel Fox and tenor Willie Wynn, the Oak Ridge Boys kept expanding their reach by aligning their style with contemporary tastes, adding a drummer and weaving pop and rock elements into their country-gospel foundation. The strategy helped them rank among the leading gospel attractions of the late 1960s, even as traditionalists objected to the secular leanings and long-haired presentation. Recognition arrived in 1970 with their first Grammy for "Talk About the Good Times." Fox and Wynn gave way to Richard Sterban, formerly of the Keystone Quartet, in 1972 and Philadelphia native Joe Bonsall in 1973, establishing a lineup that would hold steady for the next fifteen years. That year they also cut "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup" with Johnny Cash and the Carter Family, earning their initial country-chart entry. In 1975 they opened shows for Roy Clark, whose manager urged them to pursue secular country full-time.

Columbia signed the Oak Ridge Boys later in 1975, yet the shift proved difficult: the group divided its efforts between country and gospel markets, sales fell, and mounting debts nearly ended the act. Columbia dropped them following the modest showing of their 1976 single "Family Reunion," despite Paul Simon having invited them to supply backing vocals on his hit "Slip Slidin' Away." A second opportunity arrived with MCA, yielding the breakthrough Top Five country success "Y'all Come Back Saloon" from their 1977 label debut. Follow-up "You're the One" climbed to number two, and the 1978 album Room Service delivered their first chart-topper, "I'll Be True to You," plus Top Five entries "Cryin' Again" and "Come on In."

Now established as reliable country hitmakers, the Oak Ridge Boys sustained strong chart momentum throughout the 1980s. Golden ceased trimming his hair and beard, creating an instantly recognizable visual trademark. Another number-one single, "Trying to Love Two Women," arrived in 1980, but 1981 brought genuine stardom. Their revival of the 1960s doo-wop novelty "Elvira" earned a Grammy and crossed over dramatically, topping the country list while the signature "oom-pop-a-mow-mow" bass hook carried it into the pop Top Five. The accompanying album Fancy Free became their first country chart-topper and biggest seller to that point. The title track of their next number-one set, 1982's Bobbie Sue, also reached country number one and nearly cracked the pop Top Ten. American Made's title song and follow-up "Love Song" both led the country chart in 1983. Early 1984's Deliver marked their third country number-one album and supplied two more chart-toppers that year, "Everyday" and "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes." Three additional number ones followed in 1985: "Little Things," "Make My Life with You," and "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend."

Commercial pace moderated somewhat in the later 1980s, yet sizable hits continued. Number-one singles arrived in 1987 with "It Takes a Little Rain" and "This Crazy Love," in 1988 with "Gonna Take a Lot of River," and in 1990 with "No Matter How High," bringing their career total to sixteen country chart-toppers and twenty-nine Top Ten entries. The classic lineup fractured, however, when Golden's increasingly rugged mountain-man appearance and lifestyle prompted his 1987 dismissal aimed at refreshing the group's image. Longtime backing-band guitarist Steve Sanders stepped in, and Golden later sued, ultimately reaching an out-of-court settlement. After leaving MCA for RCA in 1991, the Oak Ridge Boys released only two albums before the label relationship concluded, signaling the close of their peak commercial period. Occasional returns to traditional country-gospel material marked the 1990s alongside continued touring.

Sanders departed in late 1995 amid personal difficulties; Golden reconciled with the others and rejoined for their New Year's Eve performance that year, with frequent appearances including dates in Branson, Missouri. Sanders died by suicide in 1998. Fox, who had shifted to overseeing the group's publishing interests before rising to a senior executive role, passed away in April 2003. The longstanding 1970s configuration of Sterban, Bonsall, Golden, and Allen issued the 2009 studio album The Boys Are Back, featuring reinterpretations of material by John Lee Hooker, Neil Young, and the White Stripes. The Oak Ridge Boys subsequently concentrated on spiritual recordings for Gaither Music Group while maintaining secular performances, among them a 2013 show marking their fortieth anniversary. Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame followed in 2015. Early 2018 brought the single "Brand New Star," preceding the March release of the Dave Cobb-produced album 17th Avenue Revival. The following year Cobb also helmed their eighth holiday collection, Down Home Christmas.