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Joe Bonsall, the longtime tenor of the classic country quartet, the Oak Ridge Boys, has died at the age of 76.
Bonsall's passing from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, was confirmed in an announcement by the group's representatives on Tuesday (July 9). The band also released a statement on their official website.
Remembering their partner, they wrote: “As a 50-year member of the American music group the Oak Ridge Boys, Joe was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.”
Earlier this year, citing his illness, Bonsall announced his retirement from touring with the group as they embarked on their farewell run. Around that time, it was reported that the Oak Ridge Boys had plans to record another record with producer Dave Cobb, the follow-up to 2021's Front Porch Singin'.
In their statement, the band continued: "Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write. He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first—and we will see him again on the Promised Day.”
The Philadelphia-born musician joined the country-gospel outfit in 1973, enjoying five decades with the band famous for songs like 'Elvira', 'Y'all Come Back Saloon', and 'Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.'
He, alongside Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden, became one of the longest-running acts in country music. In that time, they amassed over a dozen No. 1 singles and a handful of Grammy awards for their gospel and non-gospel performances.
