The Oak Ridge Boys
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The Oak Ridge Boys Biography
One of the longest-running groups in country music, the Oak
Ridge Boys started life as a gospel quartet before gradually
modernizing their style and moving into secular country-pop. Yet even
at the height of their popularity in the late '70s and early '80s --
when they were big enough to cross over to the pop charts -- their
sound always remained deeply rooted in country gospel harmony. Their
existence dates all the way back to World War II, circa 1942-1943, when
a Knoxville, TN, group began performing gospel songs in nearby Oak
Ridge, the home of an atomic bomb research facility. The group's
members also performed in a larger aggregation called Wally Fowler
& the Georgia Clodhoppers, which recorded for Capitol. However,
lead singer Fowler decided to focus on gospel music in 1945. Dubbed the
Oak Ridge Quartet, the group first appeared at the Grand Ole Opry that
year and made their first recordings in 1947 with a lineup of Fowler,
Lon Deacon Freeman, Curly Kinsey, and Johnny New.
Numerous personnel shifts ensued over the next few years, particularly
in 1949, when the entire group split from Fowler; at that point, he
hired a completely different group, the Bob Weber-led Calvary Quartet,
to assume the Oak Ridge name. With a core of Fowler and Weber, plus a
revolving-door cast of supporting vocalists, the group became one of
the top draws on the Southern gospel circuit, continuing up to the end
of 1956. At that point, Fowler disbanded the quartet and sold the name
to group member Smitty Gatlin, who organized a new lineup in early
1957. In 1961, Gatlin changed their name to the Oak Ridge Boys, made
them a full-time professional act, and started to modernize their sound
on record with fuller arrangements and elements of country and folk.
Future mainstay William Lee Golden joined as the group's baritone
vocalist in 1964, and when Gatlin retired to become a full-time
minister two years later, the group, acting on Golden's recommendation,
hired ex-Southernairs singer Duane Allen as his replacement on lead
vocals.
With bass singer Noel Fox and tenor singer Willie Wynn, the Oak Ridge
Boys continued to broaden their appeal by adapting their sound to the
times, adding a drummer to their backing band and incorporating bits of
pop and even rock into their country gospel style. As a result, they
grew into one of the most popular gospel acts of the late '60s, despite
purist criticism over their secular influences and increasingly
long-haired image. They even won their first Grammy in 1970 for Talk
About the Good Times. Fox and Wynn were replaced by Richard Sterban
(ex-Keystone Quartet) and Philadelphia native Joe Bonsall in 1972 and
1973, respectively, and this lineup would remain intact for the next
decade and a half. In 1973, they recorded a single with Johnny Cash and
the Carter Family called Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup, which
brought them their first appearance on the country charts. In 1975,
they opened a series of tour dates for Roy Clark, whose manager was
highly impressed and encouraged them to try their hands at secular
country.
The Oak Ridge Boys signed with Columbia later that year but found the
initial transition a rough one: they split their time between country
and gospel, and without a strong identity their sales dropped. The
resulting financial problems nearly forced them to disband, and a
discouraged Columbia gave up on them after the 1976 single Family
Reunion barely charted, even though labelmate Paul Simon had tapped
them to sing backup on his hit Slip Slidin' Away. Fortunately, they
got another chance with MCA and scored a breakout Top Five hit in 1977
with Y'all Come Back Saloon, the title song from their label debut.
The follow-up, You're the One, reached number two, and their next
album, 1978's Room Service, gave them their first number one hit in
I'll Be True to You as well as two more Top Five hits in Cryin'
Again and Come on In.
Thus established as country hitmakers, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on a
run of chart success that would last through the '80s. Golden stopped
cutting his hair and beard altogether, giving the group a hugely
recognizable visual signature as well. They hit number one again in
1980 with Trying to Love Two Women, but it was the following year
that would make them a genuine phenomenon. Their recording of Elvira,
an obscure, doo wop-style novelty song from the '60s, became a major,
Grammy-winning crossover smash. Not only did it hit number one on the
country charts, but its infectious oom-pop-a-mow-mow bass vocal hook
boosted it into the Top Five on the pop charts. Its accompanying album,
Fancy Free, became their first to top the country charts, not to
mention their biggest seller ever. The title cut of their chart-topping
1982 follow-up, Bobbie Sue, also went number one country and nearly
made the pop Top Ten as well. American Made's title track also topped
the charts in 1983, as did its follow-up, Love Song. In early 1984
Deliver became their third number one country album, and they landed
two more number one singles that year with Everyday and I Guess It
Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes. 1985 brought three number ones: Little
Things, Make My Life with You, and Touch a Hand, Make a Friend.
The Oak Ridge Boys' sales began to slow a bit in the latter half of the
'80s, but they still produced big hits with regularity. They hit number
one in 1987 ( It Takes a Little Rain, This Crazy Love ), 1988 ( Gonna
Take a Lot of River ), and 1990 ( No Matter How High ), giving them a
total of 16 career country chart-toppers (and 29 Top Ten hits).
However, by that point, the group's longtime lineup had split --
Golden, whose mountain-man appearance was increasingly supported by his
rugged lifestyle, was given the boot in 1987 in an attempt to remake
the group's image. He was replaced by longtime backing-band guitarist
Steve Sanders and sued his former bandmates, eventually settling out of
court. In 1991, the Oak Ridge Boys parted ways with MCA and signed with
RCA, but after just two albums, it was apparent that their commercial
prime had passed, and the relationship ended. The group returned to
traditional-style country gospel on occasion during the '90s and
continued to tour. Meanwhile, Sanders' marital problems worsened,
causing him to leave the group in late 1995; Golden and the other
members resolved their differences, and he returned at their New Year's
Eve show that year; they still performed often, notably in Branson, MO.
Sadly, Sanders shot and killed himself in 1998. Fox, who moved on to
run the group's publishing arm and later became a high-ranking music
executive, passed away in April 2003. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Written by Steve Huey