Elvira!
Everybody over 40 (and quite a few under 40) years of age knows that song. It was an anthem at stadiums, sports bars, and weddings for so many years. How many of us would wait for the “Giddy-up! Pa-pa-ooh-pa-pa-ooh-mow-mow!” bridge in the song? One of the great voices of that country/pop standard left us earlier this week.
Joe Bonsall, tenor singer for the Oak Ridge Boys from 1973 to his retirement in earlier this year, passed away on July 9th from complications of ALS (known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Known for his bushy moustache and wide grin, he was a favorite of fans for his sense of humor and dedication to The Lord. He adored his family, and especially loved his pet cat. He and the Oak Ridge Boys were stalwarts when it came to live performances, never giving a bad show and extremely warm to the fan base.
The history of the group actually dates back to the 1940s, performing primarily as a gospel quartet. By the time Bonsall joined in 1973, they were starting to delve more into mainstream country, and were finding minor success on the country charts. However, the release of “Elvira” in 1981, along with “Bobby Sue” (1982) and “American Made” (1983) gave them their biggest claim to fame.
The incarnation of Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban were how most people remember the quartet and they were at their finest. Along with a number of country records, the group recorded many gospel and Christmas albums. They were one of the few acts to tour the Soviet Union before the fall of Communism, and recorded with other acts such as Roy Clark, Paul Simon and Jimmy Sturr. In 2010, they even recorded a country-ish version of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” They became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 2011, and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
Bonsall was also the author of children’s books, and wrote a story about his mother and father meeting for the first time called GI Joe and Lillie in 2003. He also wrote about the Oak Ridge Boys and the group’s touring adventures. At the time of his death, he was writing a semi-autobiography called I See Myself.
He had missed a number of tour dates starting in 2022 due to health concerns, and finally announced his retirement on January 3, 2024. His last performances were made sitting on a stool and he had to be assisted on and off stage. After the announcement of his passing, a number of country artists such as Travis Tritt and Blake Shelton paid tribute to Bonsall on social media.
I was connected to Bonsall through LinkedIn. We had messaged back and forth a few times, but mostly I watched his posts. He was almost always holding his cat, and his posts were always about faith and love. I remember his announcement of his retirement, and one of his last was a picture of him with his daughters. He also loved to play banjo, and would often post photos of him plucking the five-string.
Joe, your voice, your smile, and your heart will be missed in this world. Now teach the angels to song “Elvira” for me.
Chew on it and comment.
Luegra 