The Oak Ridge Boys Announce Farewell Tour
One of the most legendary vocal groups in the history of country and Gospel music is calling it quits from the road, at least at some point in the not so distant future. Announced on Tuesday (9-19), The Oak Ridge Boys are heading out for their last hurrah called “American Made: The Farewell Tour.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame quartet has been around in one form or another since 1943. But the most legendary lineup of Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban have been touring together since 1973, celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2023. William Lee Golden is the band’s oldest member, first joining in 1965.
“We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” Golden said in a statement. “They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad. I will always be thankful to every person who came out to a show, bought a t-shirt, played our music, and overall, loved us enough to spend their hard-earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”
Though country fans have been faked out by farewell tours before, there is reasons to believe this one could be legitimate. When Saving Country Music saw the band earlier this year, Joe Bonsall was on stage with a stool due to a recent injury, and Richard Sterban was not present and being spelled by bass singer Aaron McCune, which is not uncommon these days. Nonetheless, it was an excellent show, with The Oaks still evoking magic with their 4-part harmonies.
“I was 25 years old in 1973 when I joined The Oak Ridge Boys,” says Bonsall. “I am 75 years old in 2023 and I am STILL an Oak Ridge Boy. It has been and still IS an amazing ride.”
Though the band has announced new tour dates as part of the revelation, they have also said their “farewell” doesn’t have an ending date just yet, only that it’s beginning now with two dates scheduled this week in Branson, Missouri at the The Mansion Theater. There won’t be much rest for the band through. The Oaks have 45 total appearances planned through the end of the year.
“For all of my career I have always been a planner, sometimes planning two or three years in advance, what we will do, where we will go, and when we record,” says Duane Allen. “As we celebrate 50 years of being together, just as you see us, we will, also, begin our ‘American Made: Farewell Tour.’ I don’t know how long the tour will last, but we hope to return to as many parts of the country as we can. Thank you so much for these 50 years. For me, it’s 57 1/2 years. I have given you the best part of my life and you have rewarded me with a wonderful career.”
The Oak Ridge Boys have sold over 41 million albums worldwide, anchored by 17 #1 songs like “American Made” and “Elvira,” and continue to record and release albums on a regular basis. Along with being enshrined in the Country music Hall of Fame, The Oak Ridge Boys are also members of the Grand Ole Opry and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
The Oak Ridge Boys Upcoming Tour Dates (more to come on the “Farewell Tour”)
SEP 20 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, MO
SEP 21 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
SEP 22 – Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater / Jefferson City, Mo.
SEP 23 – Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center / Huntington, Tenn.
SEP 28 – Norsk Hostfest Great Hall of the Vikings / Minot, N.D.
SEP 29 – Chester Fritz Auditorium / Grand Forks, N.D.
SEP 30 – Swiftel Center / Brookings, S.D.
OCT 01 – Deadwood Mountain Grand / Deadwood, S.D.
OCT 04 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 05 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 06 – Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City / Kansas City, Mo.
OCT 07 – Richard Drake’s Party Barn / Powderly, Texas
OCT 11 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 12 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 13 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
OCT 14 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
OCT 18 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 19 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 21 – Rome City Auditorium / Rome, Ga.
OCT 26 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 27 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 28 – Neewollah Celebration – Jim Halsey Auditorium / Independence, Kan.
NOV 01 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 02 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 03 – Brown County Music Center / Nashville, Ind.
NOV 04 – Crossroads Arena / Corinth, Miss.
NOV 08 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 09 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 11 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
NOV 15 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 16 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 21 – Vern Riffe Center for the Arts / Portsmouth, Ohio
NOV 24 – Honeywell Center / Wabash, Ind.
NOV 25 – Paramount Theatre / Anderson, Ind.
NOV 30 – Weldon Mills Theatre / Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
DEC 01 – Renfro Valley Barn Dance / Mount Vernon, Ky.
DEC 02 – Anderson Music Hall / Hiawassee, Ga.
DEC 07 – Firekeepers Casino / Battle Creek, Mich.
DEC 08 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 09 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 12 – Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, Tenn.
DEC 14 – Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center / Paducah, Ky.
DEC 15 – Effingham Performance Center / Effingham, Ill.
DEC 16 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.
DEC 17 – Egyptian Theatre / Dekalb, Ill.
September 19, 2023 @ 6:15 pm
It pains me to say it, but it’s time. Much respect to the Oaks, but those harmonies aren’t so harmonious anymore. When they were in their prime, they were the best.
September 19, 2023 @ 6:41 pm
First the Statlers, now the Oaks. When they hang it up, there will be no quartet groups left in country. I have had the privilege of seeing both groups in concert and will always cherish those memories. As far as some other groups that have come about, 4Runner didn’t last long and Brothers of the Heart is still treading water, good sounds from them though.
I would like to see a new group come along that has the bass range of Richard and the Tenor vibrancy of Lew DeWitt. This to me would be fulfilling a lifelong dream.
September 19, 2023 @ 7:15 pm
I liked their music but was a far bigger fan of the Statler brothers. Kind of odd to end it really in light that they have been around since the 1940s. Seems like they would have brought newer people in and each one silently walk away and you have a whole nother group of people but still oak ridge boys. Seems like that was what happened in the past.
September 19, 2023 @ 9:15 pm
Definitely, the Statlers by strength of their songwriting and cover selection had way better albums for much longer. But the Statlers couldn’t claim to have backed the late great Jimmy Buffett on “My Feet Hurt…” so I guess it’s a wash!
September 20, 2023 @ 3:59 am
To be fair, the Statlers were only Johnny Cash’s backing group for 8 1/2 years…
September 20, 2023 @ 12:18 pm
TXBrian:
4Runner, the vocal quartet group who had the 1995 hit “Cain’s Blood” has reunited. They have a new album, a new website and a Facebook page:
https://4runner-music.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088679410095
September 21, 2023 @ 10:35 am
Those guys exist the guy that used to sing bass for ernie haus Tim something he actually works for the Goldens sometimes. And Jimmy fortune who replace Lewis DeWitt for tenor
September 19, 2023 @ 7:16 pm
Sorry txbrian, didn’t mean to reply to you there.
September 19, 2023 @ 7:18 pm
Now that song will be stuck in my head the rest of the night…
My baby is American Made
Born and bred in the U.S.A.
From her silky long hair
to her sexy long legs
My baby is American Made
(It truly is a bad song).
September 20, 2023 @ 4:15 am
I’ve always preferred the Oak’s pre Elvira songs. I love “Cryin’ Again” and “Beautiful You”.
That said, I feel a couple of their worst songs were “I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (And Left My Heart Alone)” and “So Fine”. The former only has two verses and repeats the first for the rest of the song. It could be considered the “Baby Shark” of country and still made it to number 2. The latter was a doo-wop cover that comes off like an Elvira Clone and still made the top 25. But for all the levels, they always had a good sound and will be missed.
I believe that “Down Deep Inside” should have been released as a single. It showcases Richard’s bass at its finest.
September 20, 2023 @ 10:54 pm
I could have farted out better lyrics!
September 19, 2023 @ 9:45 pm
The Statler Brothers retired in 2002. Harold and Phil were in their early 60s and Don wasn’t even 60 yet. Funny, Jimmy the kid, is now older than any of the Statlers were when the group hung it up and he’s still performing, solo and with various combos and seems to be doing pretty well.
It’s time for the Oaks to pack it in. A couple of them are in their 80s.
September 19, 2023 @ 10:47 pm
The Oak Ridge Boys at the SC State Fair was my first country concert. As a kid, I freakin loved “Elvira”, so I was really excited to see them live. Still remember it decades later. The bass vocals were so strong my father’s older friend sitting with us in the front row seriously thought he having a heart attack. Good shit. Omm pa-pa mow mow. My most recent country concert was Jesse Daniel in Greenville SC last Saturday night playing to about twenty people – all of which were sitting at tables or sitting at the bar in the back of the room (except for my ass standing in front of the stage rocking out). I am glad that I learned the value of getting as close as you can to the band to maximize your enjoyment of a show early on. Still actually really really upset Daniel wasn’t shown the love he deserves over a two night run of shows. Seen Greenville turn out for Mike and the Moonpies, JRW, 49 Winchester, etc. so I was definitely confused and bummed virtuality no one came out to give Jesse and his awesome band the same love and support. Also, couldn’t help but noticing early Sunday morning he posted on his Facebook page that he needs a new bass player; so that is something possibly related to the Greenville situation, although the bass player was great live. It just sucks and is depressing that he will never come back, because I love his music and those were two killer nights of some of my favorite music by one of the top contemporary country music artists currently doing it.
September 19, 2023 @ 11:59 pm
One of my all time favourite groups. Some wonderful music. This news although sad does not really come as much of a surprise. They deserve a long and happy retirement. Good luck to them.
September 20, 2023 @ 5:27 am
I really hate to see this but it’s inevitable. I have seen them several times in the last few years: once at Third and Lindsley, once at the American Music Theatre, and a few times at the Grand Ole Opry, and they have always sounded GREAT, although they’ve come on stage limping a few times. Shoot, you spend 50 years on the road and see if you don’t limp a little. All the best to these American Icons!
September 20, 2023 @ 7:34 am
I know it’s probably not so cool anymore but are there any contemporary country-gospel combos you would recomend?
September 20, 2023 @ 8:19 am
The big band in this space right now is Dailey & Vincent who are regularly joined by bass singer Aaron McCune. It’s more bluegrass-Gospel, but their last album was more country-leaning.
September 21, 2023 @ 2:13 am
thank you for the reply, of course i know about them and they’re great.
I was thinking more about younger generations
September 20, 2023 @ 12:16 pm
4Runner, the vocal quartet group who had the 1995 hit “Cain’s Blood” has reunited. They have a new album, a new website and a Facebook page:
https://4runner-music.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088679410095
September 21, 2023 @ 2:13 am
i’ll check them out, thanks.
September 20, 2023 @ 1:17 pm
Daniele, 4Runner, the vocal quartet group who had the 1995 hit “Cain’s Blood” has reunited. They have a new album, a new website and a Facebook page:
https://4runner-music.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088679410095
September 20, 2023 @ 1:16 pm
Pouring one out for the W L Golden replacement who hit the fast lane, blew through two marriages and died at his own hand.
September 20, 2023 @ 4:36 pm
I guess they are only saying farewell to the rural states.
September 20, 2023 @ 6:20 pm
They are a legacy act, and one heck of a legacy. Much respect.
September 20, 2023 @ 7:13 pm
Wayne’s world.
Party time
Excellent
September 21, 2023 @ 5:36 am
Leaving Louisiana in broad daylight….better git to gittin or shotgun will. Fancy free,I’ll be true to you,thank god for kids.
November 12, 2023 @ 9:46 pm
Thank you for a lot of great memories. You all are the very best, You deserve your retirements and will be sorely missed. God bless you all take care of yourselves your health comes first. I hope you will be able to have a concert in Louisville, Ky. Before this last tour ends.