Legendary Band ‘The Oak Ridge Boys’ at Ocean City Music Pier

The Oak Ridge Boys have been bringing their distinctive four-part harmony to countless fans over a storied country and gospel music career spanning 50 years.

Yet, after all of their performances and accomplishments, including being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand ‘Ole Opry and Gospel Hall of Fame, 12 gold albums, three platinum albums and one double platinum album, what keeps the singers performing?

They love what they do. They plan on giving fans a memorable show as part of their farewell tour performance at the Ocean City Music Pier at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fans can expect to hear many of the band’s hits, from “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue” to “American Made” and “Thank God For Kids.”

Richard Sterban, the bass singer for The Oak Ridge Boys since 1972, told OCNJDaily.com while sitting on his sister’s deck in Ocean City that the group will put on a great show.

“It will be a great night of country music and family entertainment. Ocean City is a favorite place for music. It is a family-oriented town and I think it will be a perfect show for here,” Sterban said. “We have a gospel music background and we are very patriotic guys. We love this country and in the show we will honor our country and veterans.”

Sterban, who was accompanied by his wife, Donna, was very much at home in Ocean City. He grew up in Camden County and graduated from Collingswood High School before going on to college. He visits Ocean City as often as he can.

Back in the fall, the group announced the farewell tour and since then, it has been a solid list of tour dates, Sterban said.

“We want to take some time to go around to as many places as we can go to and thank people for such a great 50-plus-year career,” he said. “We are not retired just yet. I think the good Lord above will let us know when it is time. We will be touring for the rest of this year and into next year.”

Sterban, 81, will be joined by two other longtime members of the group, Duane Allen, 81, the lead vocalist, and William Lee Golden, 85, on baritone.

Joe Bonsall was the tenor. He stepped away from the group in January due to illness and passed away July 9 at the age of 76 following a four-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Sterban said it has been tough on all three of the members, describing Bonsall as a close friend.

“There is no question, it was difficult. Joe was a very close friend of mine. We went way back. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. We have to believe he is in a better place, but he is missed,” Sterban said.

The choice for who would step into Bonsall’s place was not difficult, because it was made by Bonsall himself, Sterban explained.    The Oak Ridge Boys perform in a Christmas show with Joe Bonsall at left. (Photo courtesy of The Oak Ridge Boys Facebook page)Ben James is Bonsall's replacement. He is just 28, but Sterban said that he was an excellent choice by his late friend and bandmate.

“Ben knew everything that Joe has ever sung. When Joe said he couldn’t go on tour anymore, he recommended him. Ben was personally handpicked by Joe,” Sterban said. “Ben is not trying to be Joe, and we aren’t asking him to be Joe.”

He said that while the band is considered classic country, the newer country sound is good for the business.

“I can understand we are from a different time period. A lot of young people in the business are talented and they have helped to make our business bigger and better. Some say we have even inspired them.”

Flashback to the the year Sterban joined The Oak Ridge Boys, 1972.

Sterban was playing with Elvis.

“I sang with Elvis – the King of Rock and Roll. I had the greatest memories. It was a special time in my life,” Sterban said.

While he was performing with Elvis in 1972 as a backup singer, he received a call that the bass singer in The Oak Ridge Boys was leaving the band.

“That phone call really changed my life,” Sterban recalled. “I had to admit, I was a big fan of The Oak Ridge Boys and I wanted to be a part of it. I made the decision back then to leave Elvis. I knew I followed my heart and more than 52 years later, I feel like I made a pretty good decision.”

For more information visit https://oakridgeboys.com/. To purchase tickets to the show, go to oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.