William Lee Golden | CreativelyMusical.com

Artist of the Week: The Oak Ridge Boys

I’ve grown up listening to the Oak Ridge Boys. My parents listened to the radio in the car, and the Oak Ridge Boys came on a lot when we were traveling to visit relatives or just out running errands. I can still remember singing along to “Bobby Sue” in the car.

I not only love the music, but the individual personalities they bring together on stage for an amazing performance. I’ve only seen them live a couple of times – their Christmas show and We’re All For the Hall – and I hope to see them many more times in the future.

First and foremost, the music is appealing to me because like most of my collection there is a song for every emotion, every day and every mood. My favorites are not only the ones I grew up with, but the many of the ones that have come since. It’s the four part harmony that can’t be matched. All four of the members – Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban – share lead vocal duties on any given album. Each with a unique voice that fits the songs they sing.

These guys have fun on stage, they’re energetic and they love what they do. While this is the line-up I grew up with, there have been personnel changes since the inception of the Oak Ridge Boys. For more history about those changes, check out their official web site listed above.

On a personal note, I don’t really have a favorite member, but Joe Bonsall is from Philly and I’m from just outside of Philly. So, I think that’s cool. There’s no one more visually iconic than William Lee Golden. They call Duane Allen the Ace and he does have an amazing voice. Richard Sterban is from Camden, New Jersey which isn’t far from Philly. I enjoy their music, following them on Twitter and Facebook – their work outside of the Oak Ridge Boys, their thoughts and love of sports and they other creative outlets that they enjoy.

I find inspiration in a variety of places, the members of the Oak Ridge Boys and the Oak Ridge Boys as a group contribute to some of that inspiration. William’s art, Joe’s writing, and the group’s music are the inspirations I appreciate the most. They have a permanent place in my music collection and in my heart.

Here are a few of my favorite songs:

“Elvira” – http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys/album/20th-century-masters-the-millennium-collection/track/elvira

“Y’all Come Back Saloon” – http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys/album/greatest-hits/track/yall-come-back-saloon

“Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” – http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys/album/greatest-hits/track/leaving-louisiana-in-the-broad-daylight

“Thank God For Kids” – http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys/album/gold/track/thank-god-for-kids

“Gonna Take A Lot of River” – http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys/album/monongahela/track/gonna-take-a-lot-of-river

“Amazing Grace”