Joe Bonsall, the singer who spent more than 50 years with the Grammy-winning country and gospel quartet Oak Ridge Boys, has died. He was 76.
The tenor's website announced in a statement that Bonsall died Tuesday from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. In January, Bonsall said he was battling a neuromuscular disorder that led him to withdraw from the Oak Ridge Boys.
“I’ve gotten to the point where walking is impossible, so I’ve basically retired from the road,” he said in a January statement on X. “It’s become too difficult.”
He added at the time: “It has been a wonderful 50 years and I am grateful to the entire Oak Ridge Boys Band crew and staff for the constant love and support they have shown me throughout it all.”
The Oak Ridge Boys spread the news of Bonsall's death online, sharing a photo of the singer and the statement on the group's various social media platforms.
Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys, known for hits such as “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue,” 30 years after their 1943 founding. He became a member after a gig with the Keystones and was a mainstay of the group as it achieved great success throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The Tennessee group gained popularity in gospel circles and counted Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Brenda Lee and Paul Simon among its collaborators.
The group won its first Grammy Award in the gospel performance category in 1971. The Oak Ridge Boys would go on to win four more Grammys, including one for “Elvira” in 1982. The group has a total of 23 Grammy nominations.
“We’re the band that won’t go away,” Bonsall told The Times in 1996 after a performance in Glendale. “We’re not kids anymore, but we’re out there rocking.”
Bonsall, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, was also 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, according to his website.
The musician was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015, the same year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in the United States. In response to the decision, Bonsall stated, “It's a sad day for those who care about spirituality and Bible-based principles,” and quickly faced backlash.
In the years leading up to his death, Bonsall toured seemingly non-stop with the Oak Ridge Boys, save for their hiatus amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Before announcing his retirement this year, Bonsall had revealed in 2022 that he had battled a pulmonary embolism, telling fans at the time: “I could have easily died last weekend.”
The Oak Ridge Boys launched their American Made Farewell Tour in September 2023, with singer-songwriter Ben James replacing Bonsall amid his retirement.
Before her death, Bonsall wrote 11 books, including her upcoming autobiography, “I See Myself,” which will be published in November. Music, family and faith were central to Bonsall, according to her website.
“Joe loved to sing, read, write, play the banjo,” the statement added. “He loved working on the farm and he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first, and we will see him again on the Promised Day.”
Bonsall was born on May 18, 1948, in Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke, two great-grandsons, Chance and Grey, and a sister, Nancy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph S. Bonsall Sr. and Lillie Bonsall.
The family will not be holding a funeral, at Bonsall's request. Supporters may make donations to the ALS Association or the ALS and Neuroscience Research Center at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Former Times staff writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.
