Joe Bonsall, celebrated tenor in the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, dies at 76
Joe Bonsall, Grammy Award winner and acclaimed tenor of the country and gospel group the oak ridge boysdied Tuesday. He was 76.
Bonsall died of complications from the neuromuscular disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, his family representatives said.
“Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write,” the statement said. “He loved to play the banjo. He loved to work 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.”
Bonsall, a Philadelphia native who lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, left his gospel group the Keystones in 1973 to join the Oak Ridge Boys, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden era in the 1980s and beyond, including the 1981 signature song “Elvira,” the 1982 hit “Bobbie Sue” and 1983’s “American Made.” “Elvira” marked a huge crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease that damages nerve cells and connections needed to control muscles for movements such as walking, talking and breathing. Most patients die within three to five years of diagnosis. The disease became known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939.
In September 2023, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on a farewell tour that was set to last through 2024. But in January, Bonsall announced that he was retiring from touring, saying it was too physically demanding for him after a four-year battle with ALS. Ben James, who has performed with Doyle Lawson and Dailey & Vincent was announced as his replacement.
“I’m at the point now where walking is impossible, so I’ve basically stopped walking. It’s just gotten too hard,” Bonsall said of his retirement. “It’s been an amazing 50 years and I’m grateful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew and staff for the constant love and support that they’ve given me. I’ll never forget it and for those of you who have supported me in constant prayer, I thank you and ask that you continue to pray.”
In June 2022, Bonsall shared on Xpreviously on Twitter, that he “could easily have died” after suffering a pulmonary embolism.
His memoir, “I See Myself,” will be released posthumously in November. It is his 11th book, a collection that includes the four-part children’s series “The Molly Books.”
During his five decades with the Oak Ridge Boys, Bonsall was a member of the Grand Ole OpryHe was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“For 50 years, Joe Bonsall was the spark of the Oak Ridge Boys. He was as exciting a performer as anyone who ever graced a gospel or country stage,” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a written statement. “His tenor voice was high and clear, and his jovial spirit always provided a burst of energy that instantly drew the audience in and relaxed. He certainly eased our worries every time he sang.”
John Rich from country music duo Big & Rich shared a memory of X“Country music is crying today,” he wrote. “Joe was a true friend, and someone I looked up to not only as an artist, but as a human being. He left behind a legacy of incredible music, and endless stories of his kindheartedness.”
Country musician Travis Tritt Also posted a tribute to Bonsall on X, writing: “Joe had an amazing talent and a wonderful personality and he will be terribly missed by all who knew him.”
Bonsall is survived by his wife Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, sister Nancy, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke and great-grandsons Chance and Grey.