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."
Each Step I Take
The Oak Ridge Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my steps are getting slow
As I travel down this lonely road of life
But each step that I take
Just draws me closer, closer to my home
Where I'll rest from all my heartaches, all my troubles, all my strife
Each step I take just draws me closer home, closer to my home
I see my loved ones waiting on that shore
They're waiting on that shore
Each step I take just draws me closer to my home
The Oak Ridge Boys's song, "Each Step I Take," is an uplifting Christian hymn that conveys a strong message of perseverance and faith in God. The lyrics describe the weariness and struggles that come with the journey of life, but with each step taken, the singer draws closer to their ultimate destination, heaven. The use of repetition in the chorus, "Each step I take just draws me closer home, closer to my home," emphasizes the singer's determination to keep moving forward despite the difficulties they face.
The song's imagery of a lonely road and journey is a common theme in Christian hymns, representing the trials and tribulations of life. The singer's ultimate goal is to reach their home in heaven, where they can find peace from all their troubles and heartaches. The use of "loved ones waiting on that shore" implies that the singer has experienced loss or separation from loved ones, but they have the hope of being reunited in the afterlife.
"Each Step I Take" was written by Billy Davis and Carl Buttner and was first recorded in 1957 by the Chuck Wagon Gang. The Oak Ridge Boys recorded a version of the song in 1982 as part of their album, "Step On Out," which helped to popularize the song among a broader audience.
Line by Line Meaning
My feet are getting so weary
My feet are becoming increasingly fatigued due to the long and difficult journey I have been on.
And my steps are getting slow
I am finding it harder to maintain a brisk pace as I walk along this road.
As I travel down this lonely road of life
I am moving forward along a solitary path through my journey of existence.
But each step that I take
Despite the difficulties, every stride that I move forward with brings me some measure of progress.
Just draws me closer, closer to my home
Each footfall brings me nearer to the place I belong, where I find peace and comfort from the chaos of life.
Where I'll rest from all my heartaches, all my troubles, all my strife
This destination of my home will allow me to find respite from all the suffering, stress and hardships I've endured on this journey.
Each step I take just draws me closer home, closer to my home
Every advancing movement is bringing me closer to where I belong, with the warmth of comfort and love that awaits me.
Where I'll rest my weary feet and travel no more
Once I finally arrive, I will find a place to relax and recuperate and from then on, I will cease to move forward.
I see my loved ones waiting on that shore
I already catch a glimpse of my dearly beloved waiting for me in my home destination, and it encourages me to press on further.
They're waiting on that shore
Those that have been waiting for me are standing at the boundaries, peering out eagerly, watching for my arrival.
Each step I take just draws me closer to my home
With every step I take, I move nearer to the welcoming, cozy environment that has been prepared for me.
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nobodycares7233
Wow. I am black, 46, & remember this song playing on our TV when I was a little girl. For some reason I started singing “ohm baba ohm baba my my” and immediately thought of this song. Memories ❤️❤️
@JWGauntt
i remember my little cousins driving me crazy with this song, i couldn't listen to it for the longest , lol
@larrylollis5875
They deserve in the rock n roll hall of fame
@Emper0rH0rde
@@larrylollis5875 They're not rock and roll, though. They're country/southern gospel.
@faeryfeathers
@@Emper0rH0rdewhat is rock and roll anyway? And who gets to decide where the line is drawn? That line has moved all over the place in the last 70 years, and I think that these guys have fallen inside of it more often than not.
@lex-tr1bi
❤
@redskyatnight6317
When this song came out, my grandmother went out and bought a stereo system. It was better than any stereo system I had ever seen. Two 3' speakers on either side of her living room, with the bass kicking, singing "Elvira...hi ho silver away!!". I never knew my grandma knew how to rock it like that. Every time I hear this song, I think of her up in heaven singing this with the best bass ever. Thanks for the memories gram.
@leighirvine
Love this ❤️❤️
@redskyatnight6317
@@leighirvine what makes it even better is she had an old Palomino horse she called Silver!! 🐎. The horse's name was "Silvia", but when us grandkids would pronounce it when we were young, it sounded like Silva. So Silver it was.
@sethmerson1756
My bus driver would blast this on the way home
Mr buddy