Legendary Oak Ridge Boy Member Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
As the bass voice for one of the most iconic vocal quartets in American history, Richard Sterban is nothing short of a legend in the realms of country music and Gospel. He sang all those memorable Oak Ridge Boys bass parts on songs like “Elvira” and “American Made.” Just like Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers who passed in 2020, Sterban is part of a breed of bass singers in country music that unfortunately is slowly fading away.
When Richard Sterban joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1972, matching up with Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and the following year with Joe Bonsall (who passed away in 2024), the most recognized and successful lineup of The Oak Ridge Boys was officially formed. This would be the lineup enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015, though the legacy of the Oak Ridge Boys includes scores of members tracing all the way back to the 1940s.
Richard Sterban became the band’s secret weapon, allowing them to go places other vocal groups in country and Gospel just couldn’t without a bass singer. Originally from Camden, New Jersey, Richard Sterban started out in the music business performing with a Gospel quartet called The Keystones that he co-founded. He would go on to perform with J.D. Sumner, and later The Stamps behind Elvis Presley, including performing with Elvis on tour.
Over the last few years, Richard Sterban has been regularly absent from live performance amid the band’s farewell tour, with bass singers Aaron McCune of Dailey & Vincent and Tim Duncan filling in. Sterband took some extended time off in 2022 as well for undisclosed reasons. Ben James officiall joined the group to fill in as tenor after the passing of Joe Bonsall.
Now Richard Sterban has revealed that he’s suffering from Cancer.
“In March of this year, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” the 82-year-old Sterban said in a statement. “But I am under the care of the best cancer doctors in the country and, with the help of the Good Lord above, I believe I will be able to get through this … I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, for your concern, and I would appreciate your continued prayers. Most days I’m feeling very good, and I hope to be back out on the road in several months.”
Sterban recently appeared with The Oak Ridge Boys on the ACM Awards in May, and the quartet does plan to tour in 2026.
Another country legend—Mavericks frontman Raul Malo—has also given an update to his Cancer diagnosis. On September 24th, Malo said in a statement,
“Things have taken a turn. As it goes with cancer, it’s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease. I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for ‘get this sh-t out of my head’. Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow. We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies. But it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
The Mavericks have cancelled all upcoming appearances in the wake of the diagnosis.
“Fight, recover, rest, repeat,” Malo continued. “I want to thank you all for your incredible support through all this, & sorry about the cancellations but we have no choice anymore. Find kindness and empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV.”
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September 28, 2025 @ 8:44 am
I lost my sister Wendy to pancreatic cancer at age 45 Mar.19,2000,and needless to say,Richard Sterban literally is in the fight of his life with this scary diagnosis.With Joe Bonsall having passed away last year,hopefully Richard prevails over his formidable foe.
September 28, 2025 @ 5:31 pm
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September 28, 2025 @ 9:19 am
Prayers to both of them and their families. It is still mind boggling to me with all we’ve been able to achieve in technology and medicine the last 100 years, we still haven’t been able to figure out how to beat cancer once and for all.
September 28, 2025 @ 4:44 pm
Every time I see stories about how much money, manpower, and resources is currently being spent on AI development, I think about people with Cancer, how many people die in car accidents each year, and how we could be spending resources and utilizing technology to solve those problems instead of seeding our replacement for the dominant species on the planet.
September 28, 2025 @ 5:34 pm
Getting WAY off topic, but if AI achieves all that it’s touted for, it will be an important tool for PREVENTING car accidents and preventing, diagnosing and curing cancer.
Question, though is whether you want to live in a world where everything you do, everything you consume, every place you go, every mile you drive is recorded in “the cloud” for your later “benefit.” AI may be the ultimate Trojan Horse.
September 28, 2025 @ 10:03 am
Two legends. One hopes for the best for both of them.
September 28, 2025 @ 3:28 pm
Wishing him the best. And Raul Malo also – his latest news makes me very nervous.
September 28, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
Agree on both counts. I’d never heard of what Raul has before. Nervous is a pretty generous description of how I feel.
September 28, 2025 @ 4:50 pm
Prayers to both for a speedy recovery. Cancer sucks and does discriminate no matter who you are. It has to be one of the worst diseases for taking everything from those who have it and those who are affected by it.
September 28, 2025 @ 8:26 pm
Two of the greats with iconic voices. All the prayers and positive thoughts to them. Raul has a great attitude and I am sure getting the best medical care. His positive view of humanity in music and interviews is very inspiring. I hope future generations will have the soulful and powerful voices that these two men have.
September 29, 2025 @ 7:36 am
God bless the Oak Ridge Boys! Lots of respect coming from my side of the aisle and was blessed to have been able to work with them during my career. Sterban’s bass…legendary!