Theirs is one of the most dis… Read Full Bio ↴THE TRADITION CONTINUES ...
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of country hits and a #1 pop smash, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring 15 years of hits and 50 years of tradition to bear on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And, each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.
"When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys," says lead singer Duane Allen. "This is the only job I've ever wanted to have."
"Like everyone else in the group," adds bass singer extraordinaire Richard Sterban, "I was a fan of the Oaks before I became a member. I'm still a fan of the group today. Being in The Oak Ridge Boys is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream."
The two, along with tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden, comprise one of country's truly legendary acts. Their string of hits includes the pop chart-topper "Elvira," as well as "Bobbie Sue," "Dream On," "Thank God For Kids," "American Made," "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes," "Fancy Free," "Gonna Take A Lot Of River" and many others. They've scored ten gold, three platinum and one double platinum album, one double platinum single, and had more than a dozen national #1 singles.
The Oaks represent a tradition that extends back to 1943, before Hank Williams had a career. The original group, based in Knoxville, TN, began performing country and gospel music in nearby Oak Ridge where the atomic bomb was being developed. They called themselves the Oak Ridge Quartet, and they began regular Grand Ole Opry appearances in the fall of '45. In the mid-'50s, they were featured in Time magazine as one of the top drawing gospel groups in the nation.
By the late '60s, with more than 30 members having come and gone, they had a lineup that included Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Noel Fox and Willie Wynn. Among the Oaks' many acquaintances in the gospel field were Bonsall, a streetwise Philadelphia kid who embraced gospel music wholeheartedly, and Sterban, who was singing in quartets and holding down a job as a men's clothing salesman. Both admired the distinctive, highly-popular Oaks.
"They were the most innovative quartet in gospel music," says Bonsall. "They performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long ... things unheard of at the time."
The four became friends, and when the Oaks needed a bass and tenor, in '72 and '73 respectively, Sterban and Bonsall got the calls. The group remained a highly popular mainstay on the gospel circuit, and it was there they refined the strengths that would soon make them such an across-the-board attraction.
"We did a lot of package shows," said Bonsall, "and there was an incredible amount of competition. You had to blow people away to sell records and get invited back."
Their gospel sound had a distinct pop edge to it, and while it made for excitement and popularity, it also ruffled purist feathers and left promoters unsure about the Oaks' direction. Then, in 1975, the Oaks were booked to open a number of dates for Roy Clark, whose manager was floored by their abilities.
"He came backstage and told us we were three-and-a-half minutes ' meaning one hit record ' away from being a major act," says Bonsall. "He said we had one of the most dynamic stage shows he'd ever seen, but that we had to start singing country songs."
They took his advice, and the result was a breakthrough.
"Those who came to country music with or after the New Traditionalists of the mid-'80s cannot possibly imagine the impact the Oaks had in 1977 when they lit up the sky from horizon to horizon with "Y'All Come Back Saloon," said Billboard's Ed Morris, who added "... the vocal intensity the group brought to it instantly enriched and enlivened the perilously staid country format. These guys were exciting."
Within a year, Paul Simon would tap them to sing backup for his hit "Slip Slidin' Away," and they would go on to record with George Jones, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. They would appear before three presidents, produce one of the first country music videos ("Easy," in 1977, which wasn't released in the U.S. but hit #3 in Australia), take part in the first headline tour of the USSR, and become one of the most enduringly-successful touring groups anywhere.
They did it with a consistently upbeat musical approach and terrific business savvy.
"We always look for songs that have lasting value and that are uplifting," says Allen. "You don't hear us singing 'cheating' or 'drinking' songs, but 'loving' songs, because we think that will last. We also don't put music in categories, except for 'good' or 'bad.' When we get through with it, it's probably going to sound like an Oak Ridge Boys song no matter what it is."
They proved their business acumen in any number of ways, including such steps as declining the chance to sit on the couch during their many appearances on the Tonight Show.
"We said, 'If you're going to give us four minutes on the couch with Johnny, we'd rather have four minutes to give you another song that lets people know what got us here,'" says Allen. "We didn't get here talking; we got here singing," They also proved themselves to be capable and tireless advocates of charitable and civic causes, serving as spokesmen and/or board members of fundraisers for the Boy Scouts of America, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, Feed The Children, and many more.
The group's first personnel change in many years occurred in 1987 when Steve Sanders, who had been playing guitar in The Oaks Band, replaced William Lee as the baritone singer. Late in '95, Steve resigned from the Oaks and exactly one minute after midnight on New Year's Eve, Duane, Joe and Richard surprised the packed house at Holiday Star Theatre in Merrillville, IN, by welcoming William Lee on stage and back in group. The hitmakers were finally together again!
The Oaks' high-energy stage show remains the heart and soul of what they do, and they refine it several times a year, striving to keep it fresh well into the future.
"We're not willing to rest on our laurels," Golden says. "That gets boring. As a group, we do things constantly to challenge ourselves, to try to do something different or better than the last time we did it."
"I feel like I can do what I do on stage just as good now as I could 20 years ago," says Bonsall. "in fact, if anything, I'm in better shape now than I was 20 years ago. I plan to be rockin' my tail off out there as long as I'm healthy and don't look stupid doing it. The people who come out, who bring their families to see us, deserve everything I've got."
"We've experienced a lot of longevity," adds Sterban, "and I think the reason is the love we have for what we do - the desire, the longing to actually get up there and do it. We love to sing together ... to harmonize together. It's what our lives are all about."
Oh Holy Night
Oak Ridge Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the night of our Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees O hear the angels voices
O night divine O night divine O night divine
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy Name
Oak Ridge Boys's "Oh Holy Night" is a powerful hymn that captures a deep sense of reverence and awe for the birth of Jesus Christ. The song begins by vividly describing the night sky, the stars brilliantly shining down on the world. This sets the stage for the main event, the birth of the Savior. The first verse is steeped in rich Christian theology. The second line explains why this is such a significant night, as it's the night in which our Savior was born. The third line is especially impressive, stating that the world had been laying in sin and error, longing for the appearance of the Savior. The fourth line brings together the culmination of this redemption, suggesting that in the appearance of the Savior, the soul found its worth, hence the world was saved from its sin and error. The line that dominates the first verse is the fifth line, a thrilling sensation of hope for the weariness of the world that rejoices, as a new day breaks forth, signified by the dawn, which in turn reflects the appearance of the Savior. All in all, the song's first verse sets the tone for the song's powerful message of hope and redemption.
The second verse is when the song's message becomes even more profound as it speaks about the teachings of Jesus. The lyrics declare that Jesus taught us to love one another, emphasizing His gospel, which is love and peace. The third line speaks to the freedom that Christ brings to the world, breaking chains as the slave is our brother. Finally, the fourth line declares that in the Name of Jesus, all oppression shall cease. The final line of the second verse brings everything together, in which we sing sweet hymns of joy, singing our choruses of praise to His holy Name. Essentially, Oak Ridge Boys's song, Oh Holy Night, tells the story of love, hope, freedom, and joy that comes with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining
The night is calm, with bright stars shining in the sky as a sign of Jesus' birth.
It is the night of our Savior's birth
This is the night when Jesus Christ, our savior, was born.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
The world suffered for a long time in sin and ignorance of the truth.
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
But when Jesus appeared, people's souls were uplifted and they realized their true worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
The hopeless, tired world rejoices in hope for a better future with the coming of Jesus.
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
The new era with the arrival of Jesus is breaking and bringing glory and greatness.
Fall on your knees O hear the angels voices
Everyone should humble themselves and listen to the angels singing.
O night divine O night when Christ was born
This is the night of divine beauty and majesty when Christ was born.
Truly He taught us to love one another
Jesus taught us to love one another and this is the true message of his gospel.
His law is love and His gospel is peace
The law of Jesus is all about love and his gospel brings peace to the world.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
Jesus will break the chains of slavery because we are all brothers and sisters in his eyes.
And in His Name all oppression shall cease
By the power of Jesus' name, all types of oppression will be abolished.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
We sing sweet and joyful hymns in gratitude to Jesus.
Let all within us praise His holy Name
We should praise the holy name of Jesus with every fiber of our being.
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.