Country Music Mourns Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys, Remembered for Five Decades of Music and Faith
The country music world is in mourning following the passing of Joe Bonsall, a beloved member of The Oak Ridge Boys for five decades. Bonsall, who announced his retirement in January 2024 due to declining health, died on July 9, 2024, at the age of 76 from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The Oak Ridge Boys broke their silence on the loss of their longtime friend and bandmate with an official statement posted on their website. The heartfelt message detailed Bonsall’s passing:
“Joseph S. Bonsall (76) of Hendersonville, Tennessee passed on to Glory on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. He leaves behind his precious wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke, two great grandsons, Chance and Grey, and a sister, Nancy…”
The statement went on to highlight his remarkable career and personal passions:
“As a 50-year member of the American music group The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and 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… Joseph is also the author of 11 books including his latest, a memoir entitled I See Myself, which releases in November. Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write. He loved to play 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 him again on the Promised Day.”
The news of Bonsall’s passing deeply affected countless fans and colleagues, generating such a surge of traffic to the band’s website that it temporarily crashed. The band quickly addressed the issue on their Facebook page, stating, “Our website is currently overloaded and is temporarily crashed. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to get it back online as soon as possible.”
A Double Loss for The Oak Ridge Boys
Bonsall’s death marks a second recent tragedy for The Oak Ridge Boys. Just one week prior, on July 1, 2024, William “Rusty” Golden, the 65-year-old son of band member William Lee Golden, passed away at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
In accordance with Joe Bonsall’s wishes, no funeral services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that those wishing to honor his memory consider donating to The ALS Association or the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Bonsall’s extended family, friends, and bandmates as they navigate this profound period of grief.