When best friends agree to be each other’s supporters, through thick and thin, it never fails to last the distance and man what distances The Oak Ridge Boys have gone together. Their music has no age as it is always renewing itself, much like the boys themselves do year after year.
The current lineup of the legendary group began in 1973 when Joe Bonsall, the final "new" member of the group took his place in musical history alongside Duane Allen, Richard Sterban and William Lee Golden. Who could have known that this group of four friends would turn into one of music's most prolific and loved groups of all time, still going strong in 2023 and head on into 2024 with no signs of letting time slow them down? They did. They knew. They were right.
They've seen it all, so many beautiful places and have been a part of so many amazing things ...
- 1976 - They were part of only the second American tour of The Soviet Union with Roy Clark.
- 1977 -They won their first major award as the Academy of Country Music's Best Vocal Group.
- 1981 - They released their signature hit "Elvira" which won the CMA award for Single of the Year, a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance by a Country Group or Duo, an Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year and has since sold millions of singles and became one of the most recognized and loved songs of all time.
That's just the start of achievements and highlights of this stellar career - they have won countless other awards, they sang backing vocals for Paul Simon on his hit song “Slip Sliding Away”, they have recorded with the likes of legends including Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, George Jones, Roy Rogers, Bill Monroe, and many others. They were inducted as members into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002 and were inducted as members into the Grand Ole' Opry as members in 2018. They were just presented with accolades last weekend for their 49th year performing at the Kentucky State Fair.
They have performed for many US Presidents. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan requested that they sing at a White House barbecue. When President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized in 2002, his wife, Barbara, requested that the Oak Ridge Boys come sing for him, a request to lovingly honored. They sang for him again, one final time, performing "Amazing Grace" at his funeral in 2018.
The Oak Ridge Boys have seen, done and sang it all. They have amassed one of the largest, most loving and dedicated fan bases in country music all by just being who they are as people. Fans will travel all over this country to sing along with them. They are very approachable, they communicate directly with fans on social media instead of having a social media manager run the show, they will take pictures and sign autographs. They're the kindest, most giving and positive artists in the business, never failing to give back when there is a need. That's who they are and as a longtime fan and someone who is blessed to have connected with them personally 13 years ago and call them friends, have seen this love first hand. They set a personal precedent that few have yet to come near to matching.
Here’s to 50 years. To five decades of friendship, thousands of world wide adventures, millions of musical memories made together. Thank you for being the extraordinary people that you are. You are each a gift to so many and I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say thank you for every bit of it! We love you, the Mighty Oaks Band and the Oak Ridge Boys crew. Let's keep this bus rolling!
If you haven't seen them in action, they still have plenty of shows left on the books this year so go to www.oakridgeboys.com and find out how to get your tickets! Below is their remaining 2023 schedule:
Fri, AUG 25
Country Tonite Theatre - Pigeon Forge, TN
Sun, AUG 27
Meramec Music Theatre - Steelville, MO
Mon, AUG 28
Nebraska State Fair - Grand Island, NE (SOLD OUT)
Fri, SEP 1
Rhythm City Casino Resort - Davenport, IA
Fri, SEP 8
Sorg Opera House - Middletown, OH
Sat, SEP 9
Viterbo University Fine Arts Center - La Crosse, WI
Tue, SEP 12
Southeast Mo District Fair - Cape Girardeau, MO
Thu, SEP 14
Grand Ole Opry House - Nashville, TN
Fri, SEP 15
Newberry Opera House - Newberry, SC
Sat, SEP 16
Alabama Theatre - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Wed, SEP 20 and Thu. SEP 21
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Fri, SEP 22
Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater - Jefferson City, MO
Thu, SEP 28
North Dakota State Fair Center - Minot, ND
Fri, SEP 29
Chester Fritz Auditorium - Grand Forks, ND
Sat, SEP 30
Dacotah Bank Center - Brookings, SD
Sun, OCT 1
Deadwood Mountain Grand - Deadwood, SD
Wed, OCT 4 and Thu, Oct 5
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Fri, OCT 6
Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City - Kansas City, MO
Sat, OCT 7
Richard Drake's Party Barn - Powderly, TX
Wed, OCT 11 and Thu, OCT 12
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Fri, OCT 13 and Sat, OCT 14
Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
Wed, OCT 18 and Thu, OCT 19
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Sat, OCT 21
Rome City Auditorium - Rome, GA
Thu, OCT 26 and Fri, OCT 27
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Sat, OCT 28
Neewollah Celebration - Jim Halsey Auditorium - Independence, KS
Wed, NOV 1 and Thu, NOV 2
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Fri, NOV 3
Brown County Music Center - Nashville, IN
Sat, NOV 4
Crossroads Arena - Corinth, MS
Wed, NOV 8 and Fri, NOV 9
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
TICKETS
Sat, NOV 11
Grand Ole Opry House - Nashville, TN
Wed, NOV 15 and Thu, NOV 16
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts - Branson, MO
Tue, NOV 21
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts - Portsmouth, OH
Fri, NOV 24
Honeywell Center - Wabash, IN
Sat, NOV 25
Paramount Theatre - Anderson, IN
Fri, DEC 1
Renfro Valley Barn Dance - Mount Vernon, KY
Sat, DEC 2
Anderson Music Hall - Hiawassee, GA
Thu, DEC 7
FIREKEEPERS CASINO - Battle Creek, MI
Fri, DEC 8
Island Resort & Casino - Harris, MI
Sat, DEC 9
Island Resort & Casino - Harris, MI
Fri, DEC 15
Effingham Performance Center - Effingham, IL
Sat, DEC 16
Crystal Grand Music Theatre - Wisconsin Dells, WI
Sun, DEC 17
Egyptian Theatre - Dekalb, IL
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