Members Roll Call[1]
This list of members begins
with the "New" Oak Ridge Quartet, which debuted at an all-night singing on
December 31, 1956.
This newly formed Oak Ridge Quartet was led by Earl Smith "Smitty" Gatlin.
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Smitty Gatlin, Lead, Baritone, Tenor
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Ronnie Page, Baritone Born: Decatur, Illinois Previous Job(s): Member of The Gospel Four Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: 1962 Later Job(s): Hosted a daily gospel TV show Member of the Chuck Wagon Gang Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House Of Representatives
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Hobart Evans, Tenor Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Previous Job(s): Member of The Rainbow Quartet Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: 1957 (when a stove exploded in his face) Later Job(s):
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Bill Smith, Bass Born: Valdosta, Georgia Previous Job(s): Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: The third week of January, 1957 Later Job(s):
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Powell Hassell, Pianist Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Previous Job(s): Member of The Rainbow Quartet Joined: December 31, 1956 Departed: late 1957 Later Job(s): Worked in a Memphis music store District Manager for Harley Davidson Motorcycles 1960-1968 Owned Harley Davidson dealership in Atlanta 1968-1976 Originated the Formula 440 racing car Won the first Formula 440 championship at Road Atlanta raceway in 1969 Leasing Manager at an Atlanta Honda dealership
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Herman Harper, Bass Born: Portland, Tennessee Previous Job(s): Member of The Portlandaires and the Southlanders Joined: Early 1957, replacing Bill Smith Departed: first week of December 1968 Later Job(s): Went into business with Don Light, booking the Oak Ridge Boys while they were still in gospel music
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Bobby Clark, Tenor Born: May 30, 1935 Previous Job(s): Member of the Deep South Quartet Joined: Mid 1957, replacing Hobart Evans Departed: late 1957 Later Job(s): Sang with the Rangers Quartet, The Waterfords, The Dixie Echos and the Men Of Music. Also helped found the Cathedral Trio/Cathedral Quartet. Was a Baptist Minister in the 70s & 80s.
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Tommy Fairchild, Pianist Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: Late 1957, replacing Powell Hassell and sang lead for several months until the arrival of Willie Wynn Departed: late 1960 Rejoined: 1961 replacing James Goss Final Departure: Early 1972 Later Job(s): Member of The Blackwood Brothers
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Willie Wynn, Tenor Born: Moultrie, Georgia Previous Job(s): Member of the FFA Quartet Joined: early 1958 Departed: resigned on October 8, 1973 Later Job(s): Member of the Statesmen Formed his own quartet called the Tennesseans Member of Sweetwater
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Gary Trusler, Pianist Born: Previous Job(s): Played piano with the Prophets in 1959-1960 Joined: late 1960, replacing Tommy Fairchild Departed: 1961 Later Job(s):
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James Goss, Pianist Born: April 13, 1940 in Cartersville, GA. Previous Job(s): Joined: 1961 Departed: 1961 Later Job(s): The Goss Brothers Quartet
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Gary McSpadden, Baritone Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: 1962, replacing Ronnie Page Departed: 1964 Later Job(s): Member of the Bill Gaither Trio Member of the New Gaither Vocal Band Sang as a solo gospel artist
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Jim Hammill, Baritone Born: Previous Job(s): Joined: 1964, replacing Gary McSpadden Departed: late 1964 Later Job(s): Member of the Rebels Member of the Kingsmen
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| William Lee "Bill" Golden, Baritone Born: Brewton, Alabama - January 12, 1939 Previous Job(s): The Pilots Trio Joined: early 1965, replacing Jim Hammill Departed: early 1987 Rejoined: January 1, 1996 In between Job(s): Member of The Goldens, a group with his sons Sang as a solo gospel artist
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Duane Allen, Lead, Baritone, 2nd Tenor Born: Taylortown, Texas - April 29, 1943 Previous Job(s): Member of The Prophets Joined: May 1966, replacing Smitty Gatlin
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Noel Fox, Bass Born: Columbia, Tennessee Previous Job(s): Member of the Tennesseans and the Harvesters Joined: late 1968, replacing Herman Harper Departed: 1972 Later Job(s): Worked for Don Light Talent Booked acts for the Jim Halsey Agency General Manager of the Oaks' publishing companies, Silverline and Goldline
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Richard Sterban, Bass Born: Camden, New Jersey - April 24, 1943 Previous Job(s): Member of the Keystones and The Stamps Joined: 1972, replacing Noel Fox
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Joe Bonsall, Tenor Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - May 18, 1948 Previous Job(s): Member of the Faith Four and the Keystones Joined: October 1973, replacing Willie Wynn Departed: December 2023, retired for health reasons after 50 years with the group!
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Steve Sanders, Baritone
[2] Born: Richland, Georgia - September 17, 1952 Previous Job(s): Solo artist, and later, rhythm guitarist in the Mighty Oaks Band Joined: early 1987, replacing William Lee Golden Departed: November 1995, due to personal difficulties.
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Ben James, Tenor Born: Hickory, North Carolina - January 24, 1996 Previous Job(s): Member of Quicksilver and Dailey & Vincent Joined: December 2023, replacing Joe Bonsall after his retirement.
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Dee Allen, Baritone (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: November 1995 through mid December 1995, after Steve Sanders left. [2] Also filled for Duane a handful of times since 1997, due to illness. [3]
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Paul Martin, Baritone
[2] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Mid December 1995 through New Year's Eve 1995, covering Steve's void.
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Jimmy Fulbright
[3] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Over the years, Jimmy has covered the vocals for Duane, William Lee, Joe, AND Richard due to various illnesses and feeling under the weather.
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Chris Golden, Baritone [3] (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Chris has covered lead duties for William Lee a few times due to illness.
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Gene McDonald, Bass (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Gene filled in for Richard for a hand full of shows in Jan./Feb. 2013 due to an Achilles injury and surgery.
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Aaron McCune, Bass (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Aaron filled in for Richard for two shows in Sept. 2014 due to family matters, and a handful of shows in 2023. There is an incredible video on You Tube of Aaron singing "Dream On" in 2014.
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Michael Sykes, Lead, Baritone (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Michael filled in for William Lee for a handful of shows shows in 2020, as William Lee was dealing with illness.
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Rudy Gatlin, Tenor (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Rudy filled in for Joe in the summer of 2022, while Joe was experiencing various serious health issues.
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Woody Wright, Lead, Baritone, 2nd Tenor (not an official member, but worthy of noting here) Filled In: Woody filled in for Duane for several shows in early 2024, as Duane was dealing with family matters.
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[1] Widner, Ellis and Carter, Walter. The Oak Ridge
Boys: Our Story. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1987.
[2] Bonsall, Joe. The Oak Ridge Boys: An American Journey. Green Forest,
AR: New Leaf Press, 2004
[3] Allen, Duane and Bonsall, Joe. Personal Interview. December, 2011.