The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was officially changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s, and they remained a gospel group until the mid-1970s, when they changed their image and concentrated on country music.

The lineup which produced their most world-famous and most well-known country and crossover hits (such as “Elvira”, “Bobbie Sue”, and “American Made”) consists of Duane Allen (lead), Joe Bonsall (tenor), William Lee Golden (baritone), and Richard Sterban (bass). Golden and Allen joined the group in the mid-1960s, and Sterban and Bonsall joined in the early 1970s. Aside from an eight-year gap (1987–95) when Golden left the group and was replaced, this lineup has been together since 1973 and continues to tour and record.

Former leads:
Wally Fowler, Carlos Cook, Calvin Newton, Smitty Gatlin, Tommy Farichild.

Former tenors:
Little Johnny New, Joe Allred, Cat Freeman, Hobert Evans, Wallace Edwards, Bobby Clark, Little Willie Wynn

Former baritones:
Lon Freeman, Pat Patterson, Bob Prather, Les Roberson, Ronnie Page, Gary McSpadden, Big Jim Hamill, Steve Sanders

Former bass:
Curly Kinsey, Monroe Blaylock, Bob Weber, Ron Page, Bill Smith, Herman Harper, Noel Fox

Awards and Honors:

Academy of Country Music Awards
1978: Top Vocal Group
1981: Single of the Year – “Elvira”

Country Music Association Awards
1978: Instrumental Group of the Year
1978: Vocal Group of the Year
1981: Single of the Year – “Elvira”
1986: Instrumental Group of the Year

GMA Dove Awards
1969: Album of the Year – It’s Happening
1970: Male Group of the Year
1972: Male Group of the Year
1972: Album of the Year – Light
1973: Album of the Year – Street Gospel
2002: Country Album of the Year – From The Heart
2007: Country Song of the Year – “Jonah”
2010: Long Form Music Video of the Year – A Gospel Journey

Grammy Awards
1971: Best Gospel Performance (other than soul) – “Talk About the Good Times”
1974: Best Gospel Performance (other than soul) – “Baptism of Jesse Taylor”
1977: Best Gospel Performance (other than soul) – “Where the Soul Never Dies”
1978: Best Traditional Gospel Performance – Just a Little Talk with Jesus
1982: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – Elvira

Other honors
2000: Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
2011: Member of the Grand Ole Opry
2015: Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

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