The Oak Ridge Boys

Oak Ridge Boys is the name of an American vocal quartet, which began in the 1940s with gospel music and in the 1970s and 1980s with country and pop music was extraordinarily successful.

The later Oak Ridge Boys were founded as Harmony Quartet in the early 1940s by Wally Fowler. Precursors were the Georgia Clodhoppers, made ​​music under the direction Fowlers since the mid- 1930s. Since the group appeared regularly in the nuclear factories at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they took in 1945 the name Oak Ridge Quartet.

1949 came to a complete reshuffle. Bandleader Fowler dismissed all members and replaced them with Bob Weber and his Calvary Quartet. 1956 sparked Fowler on the Oak Ridge Quartet and sold the naming rights to Smitti Gatlinburg. This hired new musicians and named it in 1961 in Oak Ridge Boys to. 1963 was concluded with the Warner Brothers label a recording contract.

Career

An initially cautious reorientation towards country music, in 1964 initiated by the entry of William Lee Golden and 1966 by Duane Allen, who replaced Gatlin. The hair was longer, and extends the backing band with a drummer. The popularity among the followers of gospel music did not detract from the first. In 1971 even won a Grammy for the song Talk About The Good Times. 1972 replaced Richard Sterban bassist Noel Fox, and a year later Joe Bonsall has been set for Willie Wynn. Thus, the cast had assembled, which should produce numerous top hits for more than a decade.

The reorientation of country music was mainly driven by Duan Allen. In the gospel scene, there was little agreement, and it began a long losing streak. There was a first small success in 1973, when they were engaged by Johnny Cash for a single recording. A little later they were taken from the Columbia under contract. The sales of their records fell in such a way that the group was on the verge of the task. However, there were other gospel Grammys, including for the single The Baptism Of Jesse Taylor.

The final turning to country music was made in 1977 after switching to ABC / MCA label. Already their first single for the new label, Y'All Come Back Saloon reached number three on the country charts. With I'll Be True To You in 1978 they managed their first number 1 hit. In the same year, the Oak Ridge Boys have won both the Country Music Association as well as the Academy of Country Music as a vocal group of the year.

In the following years there was a long succession of further Top 10 rankings and No. 1 hits. There was also a variety of other awards. Her biggest hit was 1981 Elvira, the place was taken by one of the country charts and place Five of the pop charts. Since their sold records in many cases the pop- bearing, revenues were high. It was not until the mid-1980s subsided sales figures and charts rankings.

In 1986, the senior group member William Lee Golden was thrown from his colleagues from the band. The for some time unkempt -looking and overweight Golden, who with his long beard over decisively influenced the visual image was not recently become a liability because of his wayward behavior. He was replaced by Steve Sanders. For a time, could be tied to the old successes again. Until the early 1990s, more top hits were recorded.

In 1990 she switched to the RCA label. 1996 Sanders ended his cooperation. For him, returned to William Lee Golden. The Group continued to take numerous appearances. Hit parade success was no longer there. A new generation had now come into the years Oak Ridge Boys displaced.

During the 2009 released album The Boys Are Back ( dt: The boys are back ) is, among other things, a cover version of the song Seven Nation Army by American rock band The White Stripes heard.

Discography

Albums

Awards (only country music )

Website

  • Http://www.oakridgeboys.com/
  • American band
  • Country Band
  • Grammy winner
611996
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