You know that thumping bass line. You know the "oom-pa-pa-mow-mow" that makes everyone at a wedding reception or a county fair stop what they’re doing and start singing along. But honestly, most people don't realize that the four guys we’ve seen on album covers for decades aren't actually the "original" group. The history of the Oak Ridge Boys members is long, weird, and surprisingly complicated, spanning all the way back to World War II-era Tennessee.
It’s easy to think of them as just a country group. They’re way more than that. They started as a gospel quartet called the Oak Ridge Quartet. Back then, they were literally performing for workers at the nuclear research facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Think about that for a second. The guys who sang "Elvira" have roots in the Manhattan Project.
The "Golden Four" and how they got there
When people talk about the Oak Ridge Boys members today, they’re almost always talking about the classic lineup: Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban. This is the Mount Rushmore of the group. But they didn't all just show up on the same day in 1943. It was a slow-motion puzzle that took thirty years to assemble.
Duane Allen joined in 1966. He’s the lead singer, the guy with the business mind who basically steered the ship toward the country charts when the gospel world started feeling a bit too restrictive. He’s got that steady, reliable baritone that anchors everything.
Then you have William Lee Golden. He’s the one you can’t miss. The "Mountain Man." He joined in 1965, even before Duane. For a while in the late 80s, he was actually out of the group because—well, to put it bluntly—his look and vibe were getting a bit too "out there" for the rest of the guys at the time. He stayed away for about nine years before returning in 1996. The fans wouldn't have it any other way. His long beard is basically the group's unofficial logo.
Richard Sterban is the voice. You know the one. The bass. He joined in 1972, leaving a job singing backup for Elvis Presley. Yeah, you read that right. He left the King of Rock 'n' Roll to join a gospel-turning-country quartet. People thought he was crazy. Looking back at the royalty checks from "Elvira," he probably feels okay about the move.
And then there was Joe Bonsall.
Joe was the spark plug. The tenor. He joined in 1973, completing what we now know as the definitive lineup. Sadly, the world lost Joe in July 2024 due to complications from ALS. His passing marked the end of an era that lasted over fifty years. It’s hard to overstate how much his energy defined their live shows. He was the guy jumping around, keeping the crowd hyped while the other three held down the harmonies.
💡 You might also like: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
The transition from Gospel to Country
It wasn't a smooth jump. Not at all. In the early 70s, the Oak Ridge Boys members were essentially pariahs in the Southern Gospel world. They grew their hair long. They wore bell-bottoms. They used a full band with drums and electric guitars.
To the old-school gospel crowd, this was practically heresy.
They were literally getting booed off stages at gospel conventions. It’s wild to think about now, but they were the rebels of their time. They were broke, too. At one point, they were deeply in debt and considering calling it quits. Then, Paul Simon (yes, that Paul Simon) asked them to sing backup on "Slip Slidin' Away." That gave them the street cred—and the cash—to pivot fully into the country market.
By the time "Y'all Come Back Saloon" hit in 1977, they weren't just a gospel group anymore. They were superstars.
What about the "New Guy"?
With Joe Bonsall’s retirement from touring shortly before his passing, a new face stepped into the fold: Ben James.
It’s a tough gig, replacing a legend. But Ben wasn't a stranger. He’d actually been introduced to the group years earlier by Daily & Vincent. The story goes that Joe Bonsall himself hand-picked Ben to take his spot. That matters. Fans are protective of the lineup, but knowing that Joe gave his blessing made the transition a lot easier for the "Oaks" faithful. Ben has a massive range, and while he isn't trying to be Joe, he keeps that high-tenor energy alive that is so central to their sound.
Why the lineup lasted so long
Most bands break up after five years because someone stole someone else's girlfriend or spent all the tour money on a bad investment. The Oak Ridge Boys stayed together for half a century. Why?
📖 Related: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Honestly, it’s because they treated it like a business and a brotherhood simultaneously. They had a "no-jerk" policy before that was a trendy thing to say. They shared the spotlight. Each member had a "solo" moment in almost every show.
- Duane Allen handled the production and the "big picture" stuff.
- Richard Sterban became the voice of their promotions (you’ve heard him on those TV commercials).
- William Lee Golden provided the visual identity and the soul.
- Joe Bonsall was the public face and the primary storyteller.
When William Lee Golden was gone from 1987 to 1996, he was replaced by Steve Sanders. Steve was a talented guy—a former child prodigy—and he was the one singing on hits like "Gonna Take a Lot of River." But the chemistry was just... different. It wasn't "The Oaks" to the fans. When Golden came back, the universe felt like it was back in balance.
The legacy of the 1940s-1960s members
We shouldn't ignore the guys who built the foundation. Before Duane and the gang, there were dozens of men who cycled through the Oak Ridge Quartet.
Wally Fowler was the founder. He was a promoter, a songwriter, and a bit of a hustler. He saw the potential in the group name. Then you had guys like Smitty Gatlin, who was the lead singer during the transition into the early 60s. If Smitty hadn't left to pursue solo work, Duane Allen might never have gotten the call.
It’s a chain reaction of talent. Each of the Oak Ridge Boys members throughout history acted as a bridge to the next version of the group.
Misconceptions about the group
One thing that drives fans crazy is when people think they are a "nostalgia act." Sure, they play the hits. You aren't getting out of an Oaks show without hearing "Thank God For Kids" or "American Made."
But they never stopped recording.
👉 See also: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
In recent years, they worked with producer Dave Cobb—the guy who produces Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell. He stripped back their sound. He made them sound gritty and old-school. It proved that these guys weren't just about the sequins and the 80s production; they were, at their core, world-class harmonizers.
Another misconception? That they are purely "conservative" or "stuffy."
If you ever followed Joe Bonsall on social media, you knew he was a tech-savvy, hilarious, and deeply observant guy. They’ve always been more progressive than the "gospel" label suggested, especially in how they integrated different genres like pop and rock into their arrangements.
How to experience the Oak Ridge Boys today
If you’re looking to dive into their catalog, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits. Check out the 17th Avenue Revival album. It’s the Dave Cobb produced record I mentioned. It sounds like a group of men singing in a room together, which is exactly what it is.
The current lineup of Duane, Richard, William Lee, and Ben James is still out there. They are still touring. They are still hitting those four-part harmonies that no one else can quite replicate.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Listeners:
- See them now: If you have the chance to see them on their "Farewell Tour," take it. With Joe gone and the other members in their 70s and 80s, these performances are historic.
- Listen for the Bass: When listening to "Elvira," pay attention to Richard Sterban’s technique. He doesn't just sing low; he uses a specific resonance that he learned from his days in gospel—it's about the "pop" of the consonant.
- Follow the individual members: William Lee Golden often tours with his sons as "The Goldens," offering a more bluegrass-leaning side of the family talent.
- Explore the "Gospel Years": To truly appreciate their vocal tightrope walking, find their 1960s recordings. The lack of heavy production shows just how technically proficient they had to be to survive.
The story of the Oak Ridge Boys members isn't just a story about a band. It's a story about American music evolving from the secret cities of the 1940s to the bright lights of Nashville. It’s about sticking together when the industry tells you you're finished. It’s about the "oom-pa-pa-mow-mow" that never actually gets old.