Members Roll Call[1]
This list of members begins
with the "New" Oak Ridge Quartet, which debuted at an all-night singing on
December 31, 1956.
This newly formed Oak Ridge Quartet was led by Earl Smith "Smitty" Gatlin.
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Smitty Gatlin, Lead, Baritone, Tenor
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Ronnie Page, Baritone Born: Decatur, Illinois Previous Job(s): Member of The Gospel Four Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: 1962 Later Job(s): Hosted a daily gospel TV show Member of the Chuck Wagon Gang Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House Of Representatives
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Hobart Evans, Tenor Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Previous Job(s): Member of The Rainbow Quartet Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: 1957 (when a stove exploded in his face) Later Job(s):
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Bill Smith, Bass Born: Valdosta, Georgia Previous Job(s): Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: The third week of January, 1957 Later Job(s):
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Powell Hassell, Pianist Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Previous Job(s): Member of The Rainbow Quartet Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: late 1957 Later Job(s): Worked in a Memphis music store District Manager for Harley Davidson Motorcycles 1960-1968 Owned Harley Davidson dealership in Atlanta 1968-1976 Originated the Formula 440 racing car Won the first Formula 440 championship at Road Atlanta raceway in 1969 Leasing Manager at an Atlanta Honda dealership
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Herman Harper, Bass Born: Portland, Tennessee Previous Job(s): Member of The Portlandaires and the Southlanders Joined: Early 1957, replacing Bill Smith Departed: first week of December 1968 Later Job(s): Went into business with Don Light, booking the Oak Ridge Boys while they were still in gospel music
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Bobby Clark, Tenor Born: May 30, 1935 Previous Job(s): Member of the Deep South Quartet Joined: Mid 1957, replacing Hobart Evans Departed: late 1957 Later Job(s): Sang with the Rangers Quartet, The Waterfords, The Dixie Echos and the Men Of Music. Also helped found the Cathedral Trio/Cathedral Quartet. Was a Baptist Minister in the 70s & 80s.
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Tommy Fairchild, Pianist Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: Late 1957, replacing Powell Hassell and sang lead for several months until the arrival of Willie Wynn Departed: late 1960 Rejoined: 1961 replacing James Goss Final Departure: Early 1972 Later Job(s): Member of The Blackwood Brothers
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Willie Wynn, Tenor Born: Moultrie, Georgia Previous Job(s): Member of the FFA Quartet Joined: early 1958 Departed: resigned on October 8, 1973 Later Job(s): Member of the Statesmen Formed his own quartet called the Tennesseans Member of Sweetwater
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Gary Trusler, Pianist Born: Previous Job(s): Played piano with the Prophets in 1959-1960 Joined: late 1960, replacing Tommy Fairchild Departed: 1961 Later Job(s):
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James Goss, Pianist Born: April 13, 1940 in Cartersville, GA. Previous Job(s): Joined: 1961 Departed: 1961 Later Job(s): The Goss Brothers Quartet
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Gary McSpadden, Baritone Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: 1962, replacing Ronnie Page Departed: 1964 Later Job(s): Member of the Bill Gaither Trio Member of the New Gaither Vocal Band Sang as a solo gospel artist
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Jim Hammill, Baritone Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: 1964, replacing Gary McSpadden Departed: late 1964 Later Job(s): Member of the Rebels Member of the Kingsmen
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| William Lee "Bill" Golden, Baritone Born: Brewton, Alabama - January 12, 1939 Previous Job(s): The Pilots Trio Joined: early 1965, replacing Jim Hammill Departed: early 1987 Rejoined: January 1, 1996 In between Job(s): Member of The Goldens, a group with his sons Sang as a solo gospel artist
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Duane Allen, Lead, Baritone, 2nd Tenor Born: Taylortown, Texas - April 29, 1943 Previous Job(s): Member of The Prophets Joined: May 1966, replacing Smitty Gatlin
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Noel Fox, Bass Born: Columbia, Tennessee Previous Job(s): Member of the Tennesseans and the Harvesters Joined: late 1968, replacing Herman Harper Departed: 1972 Later Job(s): Worked for Don Light Talent Booked acts for the Jim Halsey Agency General Manager of the Oaks' publishing companies, Silverline and Goldline
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Richard Sterban, Bass Born: Camden, New Jersey - April 24, 1943 Previous Job(s): Member of the Keystones and The Stamps Joined: 1972, replacing Noel Fox
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Joe Bonsall, Tenor Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - May 18, 1948 Previous Job(s): Member of the Faith Four and the Keystones Joined: October 1973, replacing Willie Wynn Departed: December 2023, retired for health reasons after 50 years with the group!
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Steve Sanders, Baritone
[2] Born: Richland, Georgia Previous Job(s): Solo artist, and later, rhythm guitarist in the Mighty Oaks Band Joined: early 1987, replacing William Lee Golden Departed: November 1995, due to personal difficulties.
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Dee Allen, Baritone (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: November 1995 through mid December 1995, after Steve Sanders left. [2] Also filled for Duane a handful of times since 1997, due to illness. [3]
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Paul Martin, Baritone
[2] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Mid December 1995 through New Year's Eve 1995, covering Steve's void.
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Jimmy Fulbright
[3] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Over the years, Jimmy has covered the vocals for Duane, William Lee, Joe, AND Richard due to various illnesses and feeling under the weather.
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Chris Golden, Baritone [3] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Chris has covered lead duties for William Lee a few times due to illness.
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Gene McDonald, Bass (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Gene filled in for Richard for a hand full of shows in Jan./Feb. 2013 due to an Achilles injury and surgery.
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Aaron McCune, Bass (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Aaron filled in for Richard for two shows in Sept. 2014 due to the death of Richard's mother, and a handful of shows in 2023. There is an incredible video on You Tube of Aaron singing "Dream On" in 2014.
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Rudy Gatlin, Tenor (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Rudy filled in for Joe in the summer of 2022, while Joe was experiencing various serious health issues including pulmonary embolisms.
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Ben James, Tenor (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Ben began filling in for Joe in late December of 2023, as Joe announced his retirement. Ben would continue filling in live through 2024. Joe's health forced him to retire from performing. Battling a neuromuscular disorder, he was dealing with difficulties walking, and could no longer handle the physical demands of the road. |
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[1] Widner, Ellis and Carter, Walter. The Oak Ridge
Boys: Our Story. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1987.
[2] Bonsall, Joe. The Oak Ridge Boys: An American Journey. Green Forest,
AR: New Leaf Press, 2004
[3] Allen, Duane and Bonsall, Joe. Personal Interview. December, 2011.