Oak Ridge Boys

 The Oak Ridge Boys are a country band who has had a long and unusual history.  They were founded as the Oak Ridge Quartet in the 1940s and did largely gospel songs. Initially the band was called Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers.  They were asked to perform in Oak Ridge Tennessee... because the nuclear research plant based there during the War, had workers who were not allowed to go out. And entertainment was provided for them.  Wally’s group performed also at the Grand Old Opry.   There were some personnel changes in the band but in the 50s it consisted of Fairchild at the piano, Wynn, Smitty Gatlin (singing lead), baritone Ron Page, and bass Herman Harper. 

Over time the lineup changed but the group went on.  In the 1970s, Richard Sterban joined the group.  He had a very deep bass voice and in their big crossover hit “Elvira”... he was famous for doing the “oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow" bass solo.  Joe Bonsall from Philadelphia also joined the group in the 70s and sang tenor.  In the 1980s they moved away from Gospel and were more mainstream or country pop. They appeared twice on the “country themed” comedy show, the Dukes of Hazzard, performing at the Boars Nest.