The gospel quartet that became a country phenomenon.
The Oak Ridge Boys: Deep Cuts
The gospel/country foursome engaged in some classic team-ups.
About The Oak Ridge Boys
Hometown
Oak Ridge, TN, United States
Formed
1945
Genre
Country
The Oak Ridge Boys is a chart-topping pop-country and gospel quartet whose roots date back to the ’40s, but whose current lineup solidified in the ’70s.
∙ In 1961, the band changed their name from The Oak Ridge Quartet, which they had used since 1945, to the more modern-sounding The Oak Ridge Boys.
∙ Talk About the Good Times earned the band their first of five Grammy Awards—this one for Best Gospel Performance—in 1970.
∙ “I’ll Be True to You,” from their groundbreaking 1977 album, Y’all Come Back Saloon, gave The Oak Ridge Boys their first of 17 Billboard Hot Country Singles chart-toppers.
∙ Their 1981 No. 1 Country hit “Elvira” not only won ACM and CMA Awards for Single of the Year, but it also won the 1982 Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
∙ Along with The Fisk Jubilee Singers and Edwin Hawkins, they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
∙ In 2011, The Oak Ridge Boys became members of the Grand Ole Opry—66 years after the original group first performed on an Opry broadcast.
∙ The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame by Kenny Rogers in 2015.
Members of The Oak Ridge Boys include, or have included, John Rich, Tony Brown, Mark Gray and more.
Influenced by The Oak Ridge BoysThe Oak Ridge Boys has influenced the music of Ernie Couch & Revival, Topango Stargazer, Randy Travis and more.