Oak Ridge Boys still draw fans from middle America

The band is looking for
another run in the limelight.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Counting their blessings is what the members of the Oak Ridge Boys — Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban and William Lee Golden — do every time they take the stage.

“The Oak Ridge Boys are on a really nice roll right now” said Bonsall, calling from Nashville. “We have some great new songs we’re singing, and we’ve been very fortunate. Mom and dad and the kids and granny all come out to hear us. It’s a good fast-paced, fun show with lots of music. And it’s a clean show. Most of our songs reflect middle America.”

You can bet the audiences attending the band’s upcoming Canfield Fair show Sept. 2 at the grandstand will be ready and willing to hear all of its hits songs. Among the band’s 10 gold albums are more than a dozen No. 1 singles such as classics “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Thank God For Kids,” “American Made” and “Gonna Take A Lot Of River.”

Will it be a hit?

It’s been quite some time since the Oak Ridge Boys, which was started in the 1940s as a country and gospel music act and has featured more than 30 members during that time, last experienced radio success and substantial album sales. Bonsall had high hopes for new song “Hard To Be Cool (In A Minivan),” which appears on the foursome’s latest CD “Front Row Seats.” Even though it wasn’t a chart topper, it’s become a fan favorite in concert. The song speaks directly to a common rite of passage nowadays in America.

“In this song you have this guy who just gave up this hot rod for his family minivan,” Bonsall laughed. “He had the big car with the headers and everything else. And he got married, and that had to go. So it’s hard to be cool when you’re behind the wheel of an eight-passenger automobile and a big bubble riding down the street with Barney playing and a baby seat in the back.”

He added, “People are just shouting and screaming during the middle of the song. We’ve been around a long time, so you know this song has a little magic. We’ll just throw it out there and people’s response has been astronomical.”

Bonsall doesn’t hide the fact that he’s hoping the Oak Ridge Boys get another shot at the limelight.

“There’s no rule you’re supposed to get radio play your entire career,” Bonsall said. “There’s no rule that says you’re supposed to be around as long as we have been and are. We’ve had over 50 charting records in our career. I have 14 gold albums hanging on my wall and several platinum albums too. There’s over 20 No. 1’s and tons of radio play. So, you just keep plowing forward and trying to reinvent and having fun. You keep your hand in the cookie jar.”