Joe Bonsall, celebrated Tenor of the gospel and country group The Oak Ridge Boys, dies at 76.
Grammy winner and famous Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joe Bonsall has passed from this world.
By MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press, KAITLYN HUAMANI Associated Press
Jul 09, 2024 08:14 PM
Joe Bonsall, Grammy award winner and well-known tenor of the gospel group and country band known as the Oak Ridge Boys , passed away on Tuesday. He was 76.
Bonsall died of complications of Amyotrophic Lateal Sclerosis as stated by his representatives of his relatives.
“Joe enjoyed singing. He loved reading. He was a prolific writer,” the statement said. “He loved the banjo. He was a huge fan of the farming at his home. He also loved baseball, particularly baseball, particularly the Philadelphia Phillies. However, Jesus always came first, and his family was too. will see his face once more in”the Promised Day. “
The Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall was a member of the gospel group The Keystones and joined The Oak Ridge Boys The group was founded in the 1940s in the late. The group experienced its peak in the 1980s and beyond, featuring the group’s most famous track in 1981 “Elvira,” its 1982 hit “Bobbie Sue” and 1983’s “American Made.” “Elvira” represented a huge crossover across the entire group and took it to top the charts at the number. one on country charts, and the top spot at No. 5 on Billboard’s All-Genre Hot 100.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis sometimes referred to by the name of ALS is a type of ALS that results in damage to nerve cells and connective tissue that regulate muscles in breathing, walking and speaking. Most sufferers are dead after three or five years after their diagnosis. The disease was known as Lou Gehrig’s disease following the famous baseball player was diagnosed with the disease in 1939.
in September of 2023, September 2023 in September 2023, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on an end-of-the road tour scheduled to last through 2024. In the January, Bonsall announced his withdrawal from the tour, saying that it was hard for him physically due to the long-term illness four years of ALS. Ben James who has performed in the band Doyle Lawson and Dailey & Vincent was chosen as his replacement.
“I am at a stage where walking is not possible, so I’ve essentially retired from the roads. It’s just become difficult,” Bonsall declared as he made the announcement of his retirement. “It was an incredible 50 years of my life and I am thankful to everyone from Oak Ridge Boys, band staff, crew and members for the constant generosity and love they have given me over the years. The memories I’ll forever remember and to all the people who have helped me through my times of prayer, I am very grateful for you and would like to request that you keep praying. “
The platform was announced in June of 2022., Bonsall wrote about his thoughts on the platform known as X previously on Twitter and stated it was possible that he “could have easily died” because of embolisms in the lung.
The autobiography of his father’s life, “I See Myself,” will be released on the 1st of November the day of his birthday. It will be his eleventh book. It is part of the four-part series of children’s books, “The Molly Books. “
During his time with The Oak Ridge Boys, Bonsall played in The Grand Ole Opry. He was accepted to The Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame and The Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“For fifty times, Joe Bonsall was the Oak Ridge Boys’ sparkplug. He was a captivating performer as anyone else who has was on a country or gospel scene,” Kyle Young director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Museum, stated in a statement released by the institution. “His vocals as a Tenor were a force and sharp and his lively manner of his persona always provided an energy surge that instantly prompted the crowd to gather around the performance and allow their tensions go away. The singer certainly slowed down our anxieties every time he sang. “
John Rich of country music duo Big & Rich shared an funeral obituary to mark the anniversary of. Country music is crying right now,” John Rich wrote. “Joe was a real person that I could trust and was awed by, not only in his professional life but also as a man. He’s left behind incredible music and endless stories of his generosity. “
Country music singer Travis Tritt also paid dedication to Bonsall in a post on X the website and wrote “Joe was a phenomenal musician and was a charming person and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. “
Bonsall is still with his wife Mary Ann; daughters Jennifer and Sabrina and the sister Nancy as well as his grandchild Breanne and his grandchild Luke and great-grandsons Chance as well as Grey.
