Biography
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American vocal quartet. The group consists of Duane Allen (lead), William Lee Golden (baritone), Richard Sterban (bass), and Ben James, who replaced Joe Bonsall as tenor in December of 2023. Allen, Bonsall, Golden, and Sterban comprised the group's longest-lasting lineup, from 1973 until 2023, except for the period between 1987 and 1995 when Golden was replaced by Steve Sanders. The act was founded in 1943 as 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 Oak Ridge Boys in the 1960s. They moved from traditional southern gospel to contemporary gospel before going into popular music in the mid-1970s. The Oak Ridge Boys finally broke through in the late 1970s, including their appearance on "Slip Slidin' Away" with Paul Simon, and reached their commercial peak in 1981 with their cover of "Elvira", a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bio from Wikipedia
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.
Greatest Hits, Etc.
1977
Negotiations And Love Songs (1971-1986)
1988
Havaña Daydreamin'
1976
The Essential Paul Simon
2007
Ragged Old Flag
1974
Anniversary - Ten Years Of Hits
1982
Fancy Free
1981
Still The Same Ole Me
1981
The Wolf
2007
Slip Slidin' Away
1977
Ringing The Liberty Bell: Independence Day 1985, Philadelphia, PA
2016
Family Faith
1988
Friendship
1984
The Very Best Of The Oak Ridge Boys
1982
Roy Clark In Concert
1976
Credited work
450 releases · 64 albums · active 1967–2023
- Performance · 450
- Other credits · 35
- Production · 8
Studios: CBS Studios, Nashville · Eleven Eleven Studio · The Hit Factory · Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Frequent collaborators
- Paul Simon
- George Jones (2)
- Johnny Cash
- Brenda Lee
- Ray Charles
- Jimmy Buffett
- Con Hunley
- Shooter Jennings