NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys died after complications with his illness.
He was 76.
Bonsall was battling ALS.
He was a 50-year member of the American music group The Oak Ridge Boys. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.
In October 2022, Bonsall spoke on the passing of friend and country music legend Loretta Lynn.
At the request of Joe, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
The family is requesting privacy.
The Country Music Association, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Academy of Country Music released statements on his passing.
“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 comes to mind so clearly. His commitment to serving others while developing Country Music into a worldwide sensation will never be forgotten and our industry has been made better because of him. Today, we lost an incomparable energy and voice in music. He will be missed greatly by all who were fortunate to know him.” – Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO
The Academy is mourning the loss of Joe Bonsall, a member of the ACM Award-winning group @oakridgeboys for 50 years. Celebrated for their distinctive four-part harmonies, The Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban) received four ACM… pic.twitter.com/xgGsv4QfZu
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) July 9, 2024
"For fifty years, Joe Bonsall was the Oak Ridge Boys’ sparkplug. His tenor voice was high and clear, and his jovial spirit always provided a jolt of energy, rousing audiences to come on in and take a load off. He lightened our cares every time he sang.”
— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) July 9, 2024
—Kyle Young, CEO pic.twitter.com/p51kjbYAU8
My friend and colleague Carrie Sharp had a lot of fun last week, on an adventure to a country more than three thousand miles away! She’s back now – sharing her Adventures in Iceland through stories, and incredible images of this remarkably beautiful and unique island nation (kudos to Chief Photographer Catherine Steward)! But did you know Nashville has something very important in common with Iceland? Tourism! Here, Carrie explains how a volcanic eruption decades ago helped save the country’s economy from collapse!
-Rhori Johnston
