The Oak Ridge Boys

The Oak Ridge Boys are an American vocal quartet. Since 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, and they remained a southern gospel quartet, slowly moving from traditional southern gospel to contemporary gospel and contemporary christian music until the mid-1970s, when they went into popular music.

The lineup that produced their most well-known hits ― such as "Elvira", "Bobbie Sue", and "American Made" ― included Allen, Golden, Sterban, and tenor vocalist 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 replaced by Steve Sanders until 1995; Golden rejoined the group at the end of that year. Bonsall retired near the end of 2023 and was succeeded on tour by Ben James, who officially became a permanent member upon Bonsall's death in 2024.

The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Provided by Wikipedia