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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