The Oak Ridge Boys
Susan Knox Wilson
“Where are we? Some sort of witness protection community?” joked the warm-up presenter for The Oak Ridge Boys. He had just thanked us all for giving the band an opportunity to play in a theater they’d never encountered in their 42 years on the road — and asked for a show of hands to determine how many in the audience had seen a live Oak Ridge Boys performance. He was clearly amazed how many of us were at our first Oak Ridge Boys concert (and, no doubt, excited about all the potential new fans!).
Just like their 1983 mega-hit, The Oak Ridge Boys are American Made — and PebbleCreek was thrilled to be the fourth stop on the Oaks’ 2016 American Tour. The tour stretches all the way from Louisiana to California to Florida to Virginia. Performing over 150 dates per year, it was quite a coup for Activities Director Traci Baker to get the Oaks to add a new stop at PebbleCreek. “We’re calling this our Celebration Tour,” said Joe Bonsall, the Oak who is the principal spokesman on stage. “We’re celebrating the fact that we’re here and we’re still performing.”
Known for their iconic and multi-platinum selling hit Elvira, along with other chart-toppers like Bobbie Sue, Thank God For Kids, and Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight, the Oak Ridge Boys have achieved a decorated career, winning five GRAMMY® Awards and multiple CMA, ACM and Dove Awards for their cross-over brand of pop, country and gospel music. Made up of members Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban, whose unmistakable bass on the lyric “oom poppa, mow mow,” has become one of music’s most recognized sing-alongs on an international scale, The Oak Ridge Boys are members of the Grand Ole Opry and achieved country music’s highest honor in October 2015 when they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Traci said she was not surprised the Oaks’ four performances in PebbleCreek sold out as soon as the dates were announced. She is hoping The Oak Ridge Boys will spread the word that we have the one theater everyone should get to play.