### Richard Sterban: The Enduring Bass of The Oak Ridge Boys and a Legacy Forged in Harmony
Richard Sterban’s “oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow” bass solo in The Oak Ridge Boys’ 1981 smash hit “Elvira” isn’t just one of the most recognizable voices in American music; it’s a pop culture touchstone that forever solidified his unique tone in the annals of country music. For over half a century, since joining the legendary vocal quartet in 1972, Sterban, now 76, has stood alongside William Lee Golden, Duane Allen, and the recently departed Joe Bonsall. In that time, the group has released an astonishing 31 studio albums and 56 singles, including 14 top 10 country records and 17 number one songs.
What many fans might not realize is that The Oak Ridge Boys’ history stretches far beyond their beloved Nashville roots. The group’s origins trace back to the early 1940s, when they were initially known as Wally Fowler & The Georgia Clodhoppers, a traveling gospel act performing in and around Knoxville, Tennessee. During World War II, this original ensemble was brought into the nuclear research plant in nearby Oak Ridge to perform for government staff involved in the development of the atomic bomb and their families, leading to their eventual name change.
However, it wasn’t until the 1970s incarnation of The Oak Ridge Boys—comprising Sterban, Golden, Allen, and Bonsall—made a pivotal transition from gospel to country music that the foursome found, and continues to find, immense success both on stage and on the airwaves.
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### From New Jersey to Nashville: A Journey to The Oak Ridge Boys
In an interview with *Smoky Mountain News*, Richard Sterban shared his unlikely path from New Jersey to country music stardom in Nashville.
**Smoky Mountain News (SMN):** So, how does someone like yourself who’s from New Jersey end up with The Oak Ridge Boys in Nashville?
**Richard Sterban (RS):** “Well, that’s a good question. [Laughs]. I organized a group in college in New Jersey called the Keystone Quartet. It was a gospel group and we’d mainly sing in churches and revivals in the northeast.”
His big break came unexpectedly: “One day, I got a phone call from the son-in-law of [bass singer] J.D. Sumner, who has Guinness Book of World Records title of ‘World’s Lowest Bass Singer,’ and he wanted to hire a young bass singer to replace [J.D.].”
This led Sterban to Nashville at the end of 1969, where he joined J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet. A mere six months later, J.D. Sumner received a call from his friend and collaborator, Elvis Presley. “The Stamps got hired by Elvis and, all of a sudden, I find myself singing backup for the ‘King of Rock and Roll’.”
While touring with Elvis, Sterban received another pivotal call. “I got a phone call from William Lee Golden, the long beard and long hair of The Oak Ridge Boys. But, back then, he was ‘Mr. GQ.’ He said their bass singer was going to leave the group and if I would be interested in taking the job. I really believed in what The Oak Ridge Boys were doing and I made the decision in 1972 to leave Elvis and be in The Oak Ridge Boys. I think time and history has proven I made a pretty good decision.”
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### A Brotherhood of Enduring Harmony
When asked about the current lineup on stage, Sterban emphasized the unique chemistry of the group:
**SMN:** And when you look around you onstage, it’s still the four of you …
**RS:** “There’s no question it’s a very special group. You could go out on the street and you could pick any four guys, but to try and put a group together — it wouldn’t be The Oak Ridge Boys. Each man brings something different to the table, so to speak. But, I think that’s part of our appeal. Over the years, we’ve learned to respect those differences and we’ve really become the best of friends. We all realized a long time ago that we need each other, you know, so we pulled together as a true team. We’re a true brotherhood. And I think that that’s a major factor in our longevity.”
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### The Unwavering Loyalty of Country Fans
Sterban also spoke about the enduring appeal of country music and its dedicated fanbase:
**SMN:** What is it about the country sound that still speaks to you? What about that genre sets it apart from other music?
**RS:** “I think country music fans are very loyal. They will stick with you through thick and thin. And you know, we’ve been doing this for almost 50 years now. We just played New Mexico and Colorado this past weekend and we know some of our [longtime] fans are there — they always show up. They buy our tickets, our records and our merchandise. It’s music that has touched peoples’ lives. And the fans are the ones that really do keep us going.”
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For those interested in hearing the full audio stream of this conversation, it can be found on YouTube by searching for “Richard Sterban Garret K. Woodward.”
The Oak Ridge Boys are scheduled to perform at the **113th annual Canton Labor Day Festival** in Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton. They will be taking the stage on **Sunday, September 1st, at 8 p.m.** Tickets for Sunday are \$10 at the gate or \$8 in advance. The festival runs from September 1st to 2nd, with a parade on September 2nd from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and a full schedule of events including a handcraft expo, food trucks, classic car show, and kid’s village. Monday’s events are free to the public. For more information, visit [www.cantonlaborday.com](https://www.cantonlaborday.com).