Joe Bonsall, one of the mainstays for 51 years of country music’s pioneering singing group, the Oak Ridge Boys, died Tuesday at the age of 76. Today we will discuss about Joe Bonsall Dead: Obituary,Still alive,Oak Ridge Boys,Wikipedia.
Joe Bonsall Dead: Obituary,Still alive,Oak Ridge Boys,Wikipedia
Joe Bonsall, a member of the iconic country music group, The Oak Ridge Boys, has died at the age of 76.
“Bonsall, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, passed away in Glory on July 9, 2024, due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He is survived by his precious wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Brain, grandson Luke, two great-grandsons, Chance and Gray, and a sister, Nancy. His parents were Joseph S. Bonsall Sr. and Lily Bonsall were preceded in death,” a release said.
Bonsall announced his retirement from the tour in January 2024. Tanner released a statement to fans and acknowledged his neuromuscular disorder.
Bonsall was from Philadelphia and lived in Nashville for nearly 40 years. He joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1973.
According to a release, Bonsall was a 50-year member of The Oak Ridge Boys and a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Joseph is also the author of 11 books, including his latest, a memoir titled I See Myself, which will be released in November. Joe loved singing. He loved reading. He loved writing very much. He loved playing the banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first—and we will see them again on the promised day.
There was immediate reaction on social media to Bonsall’s death:
“When I think of the Oak Ridge Boys and their place in country music history, the image of Joe with his huge smile and boundless energy clearly comes to mind. His commitment to serving others while growing country music into a worldwide sensation will never be forgotten, and our industry is better because of him. Today we lost an incomparable energy and voice in music. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.” -Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association.
Obituary
“My heart is heavy after listening to my friend @oakridgeboys tenor @joebonsall this morning
He died at the age of 76. Joe had an amazing talent and a wonderful personality and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Who is now with our Lord Jesus and this gives me some solace. My heartfelt condolences go out to Joe’s wife, Mary Ann, his children and his entire family. RIP🙏🏼” – Travis Tritt
“For fifty years, Joe Bonsall was the sparkplug of the Oak Ridge Boys. His melodious voice was loud and clear, and his happy spirit always provided a jolt of energy, inspiring the audience to come in and unload their burdens. Every time he sang he took our worries away.” – Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO
Joe Bonsall Dead: Obituary,Still alive,Oak Ridge Boys,Wikipedia
“I am saddened by the loss of my friend of nearly 50 years, Joe Bonsall. For so many years he was on top of voice with The Oak Ridge Boys, with whom I toured almost every year of my career. Joe and I would chat on the street, sometimes before and sometimes after the concert, about the crowd, the music, and who we are as Americans. My family sends prayers to the Bonsall family and The Oak Ridge Boys. We’ll miss you, Joe!” -Lee Greenwood
“Heartbroken to hear of the passing of our friend @joebonsall today. We will all definitely miss his big smile and infectious happiness. The amazing voice and spirit he shared with the world will now be front and center in a heavenly choir. Prayers for his family and @oakridgeboys
Brothers.
Still alive
A press release for Bonsall said the singer “was also the author of 11 books, including his latest, a memoir called ‘I See Myself,’ which will be released in November. Joe loved singing. He loved reading. He loved writing. He loved working on the farm. But Jesus and his family came first and we’d see them again.”
Bonsall had requested that there be no cremation and that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the ALS Association or the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
“He is survived by his precious wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Brain, grandson Luke, two great-grandsons, Chance and Gray, and a sister, Nancy. He was preceded in death by his parent, Joseph S. Bonsall Sr. It’s done. And Lily Bonsall,” the statement read.
Oak Ridge Boys
Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall has died following complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Fox News Digital can confirm.
Bonsall, a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Halls of Fame, was 76.
Six months earlier, Tenor announced he was retiring from touring due to declining health. “Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset neuromuscular disorder (for over 4 years now),” he wrote to X in January. “Now I’ve got to the point where walking has become impossible, so I’ve basically retired from the road. It’s become too difficult.”
“It’s been a great 50 years and I’m grateful to the Oak Ridge Boys Band crew and staff for the continued love and support they’ve shown me throughout it all,” he wrote. He said, “I will never forget and for those of you who have continued to pray for me, I thank you and ask you to keep praying.”
The Oak Ridge Boys are currently on their farewell tour. Bonsall was first seen singing from atop a stool.
Originally formed as The Oak Ridge Quartet in 1943, the country and gospel group has had a number of members over the years. The foursome that enjoyed the most success during their heyday in the 1970s and 1980s consisted of baritone William Lee Golden, tenor Bonsall, bass Richard Sterben, and lead singer Duane Allen.
Last week, Golden’s son, Rusty Golden, died.
Wikipedia
Joe Bonsall, a Grammy Award-winning singer with the country and gospel group Oak Ridge Boys, died Tuesday. He was 76 years old.
According to a statement from representatives of his family, Bonsall died from complications of the neuromuscular disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
“Joe loved to sing. He loved reading. He loved writing,” the statement said. “He loved playing the banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first – and we will see them again on the promised day.
A native of Philadelphia and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall left his gospel group the Keystones in 1973 to join the Oak Ridge Boys, which had originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden years in the ’80s and beyond, including its 1981 signature song, “Elvira”, the 1982 hit “Bobbie Sue”, and 1983’s “American Made”. “Elvira” marked a major crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100.
Joe Bonsall Dead: Obituary,Still alive,Oak Ridge Boys,Wikipedia
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease that damages nerve cells and connections that are needed to control muscles for activities like walking, talking, and breathing. Most patients die within three to five years of diagnosis. The disease became known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939.
In September 2023, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on a farewell tour that was scheduled to last through 2024. But in January, Bonsall announced his retirement from the tour, saying it was too hard for him physically after a four-year battle with ALS. Ben James, who has performed with Doyle Lawson and Daley.
