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The Oak Ridge Boys

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Vocalists

The Resume

    (1943- )
    Born in Knoxville, Tennessee
    2008 Line-up:
    Duane Allen (Apr 29, 1943- ), lead
    Joe Bonsall (May 18, 1948- ), tenor
    William Lee Golden (January 12, 1939- ), baritone
    Richard Sterban (April 24, 1943- ), bass
    Recorded the singles 'I'll Be True to You' (1978), 'Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight' (1979), 'Trying to Love Two Women' (1980), 'Elvira' (1981), 'Fancy Free' (1981), 'Bobbie Sue' (1982), 'American Made' (1983), 'Love Song' (1983), 'Everyday' (1984), 'Make My Life With You' (1984), 'Little Things' (1985), 'Touch a Hand, Make a Friend' (1985), 'It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)' (1987), 'This Crazy Love' (1987), 'Gonna Take a Lotta River (Mississippi, Monongahela, Ohio)' (1988) and 'No Matter How High' (1989)

Why they might be annoying:

    They started as the Georgia Clodhoppers.
    Over the decades, they have had thirty-five singers come and go in addition to the current four.
    Their first year after switching from gospel to country, they lost $100,000 and relied on financial support from Johnny Cash to keep going.
    Golden stopped cutting his hair or trimming his beard, both of which grew down to his waist.
    When Golden was forced out of the group, he tried to sue them (1986).
    His replacement, Steve Sanders, quit the group just hours before a show (1995).
    It takes hours to get that 'oom-papa-oom-papa-mow-mow' hook from 'Elvira' out of your head.

Why they might not be annoying:

    Sterban was a back-up singer for Elvis Presley.
    They sang back up on Paul Simon's 'Slip Slidin' Away.'
    They had 17 #1 singles on the country charts.
    They won five Grammys and 7 Dove Awards.
    Golden reconciled with the group and rejoined them at their 1996 New Year's Day concert.
    Sterban puts his distinctive bass voice to use in public service announcements for NOAA Weather Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 13.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 39 Votes: 58.97% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 56.25% Annoying