William Lee Golden and The Oak Ridge Boys knew their cover of “Elvira” was special the moment they performed the song live.
It was 1981. Originally recorded in 1965 by Dallas Frazier, the song had been covered by Kenny Rogers in 1970 with little fanfare.
But the song caught fire when The Oak Ridge Boys played it in Spokane, Washington.
“We decided to drop it just in the middle of the show and not say anything and sing the song and see how it felt,” recalled Golden, 87.
“At the end of that song, the crowd went completely berserk and would not stop. We stood there and they carried on and on and on.”
The Oak Ridge Boys sang the song a second time. And then a third.
“And every time was the exact same thing,” Golden said. “It was explosive. We said, ‘We have more songs to sing,’ and went on with the rest of the show and the rest of the songs, and even the song we closed with didn’t get them as excited … so we threw ‘Elvira’ in a fourth time and got the same response.”
“Elvira” ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard country chart before crossing over and reaching No. 5 among mainstream Billboard pop songs, with its indelible line, “Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow.”
But the colossal hit shouldn’t define The Oak Ridge Boys. Successful both long before and after “Elvira,” the band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Gospel Music Hall of Fame. And the group has collaborated with fellow legends, including Ray Charles, Paul Simon and Willie Nelson. Performing for American presidents is another career highlight.
Nearly 50 years after “Elvira” was a jukebox sensation, the award-winning band is still playing that song and others from its broad catalog on tour, including “You’re the One,” “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” “American Made,” “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” “Thank God for Kids,” “Sail Away,” “Everyday,” “Dream On” and “Bobbie Sue.”
Golden and The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at The Stage at Hartville Kitchen on June 12-13.
For more information and tickets, go to hartvillekitchen.com/events/.
“It’s one of the most unique places where we get to sing,” Golden said during a recent phone interview. “We love it, and we all have to bring a pie home from Hartville Kitchen. We’re so excited to be there, and it’s the only place the whole year where we get that close with people.”
‘Musicians don’t have to retire.’
The genesis of the singing group dates to a gospel quartet in the 1940s.
Core members of the group include Golden, who joined in 1965, and lead singer Duane Allen, who was added to the lineup a year later. The group changed its name to The Oak Ridge Boys that same decade.
“Musicians don’t have to retire and comedians don’t,” Golden said. “George Burns was still performing at 100 years old. Music has a healing power, and I know Duane and I have dealt with losses in the family and The Oak Ridge Boys.”
Vocalist Joe Bonsall died in 2024 at age 76 following health complications from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
In 2025, longtime bass singer Richard Sterban, 83, took a break from touring after announcing he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“I saw him yesterday at a luncheon,” Golden said of Sterban. “And he’s looking great. He just got back from Key West, so he looked suntanned, but I’m glad he’s doing much better. He’s still weak and doesn’t have his voice back yet.”
Younger vocalists Ben James and Aaron Lee McCune perform with Golden and Allen.
“With two young guys on each side of us, it kind of energizes us,” Golden said.
“It seems to be that music is the only thing that lifts us out of that valley of sadness. It’s been exciting and healing for us to be able to harmonize together with these young guys who are so extremely talented.”
‘A heavenly feel.’
Four-part harmonies continue to be the singing group’s signature.
“It makes you forget all your troubles,” Golden said. “When the harmonies lock in, it gives me chills just thinking about it. When they lock in, there’s no words to quite explain the joyous euphoria it takes you to some nights on stage.
“When it’s clicking, it’s like a heavenly feel.”
Oak Ridge Boys releasing new album
Making new music also excites the group.
The album “Buried Treasures” is scheduled for release later this year, featuring new songs and “several old covers,” Golden said.
Among them will be the Joe Cocker song “You Are So Beautiful” and “Stardust,” which Golden describes as “an incredible classic song.” Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, who has worked with Brandi Carlile, John Prine and Chris Stapleton, has overseen the project.
Golden will sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel.
“It was a thrill for me,” he said. “… We had to lower it a little bit to get a key that I could do, but I love that song, and it’s touching and it’s one of the all-time great classic rock ‘n’ roll songs and ballads.”
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint
If you go
What − The Oak Ridge Boys
Where − The Stage at Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW
When − June 12 and 13. Doors open one hour before the 7 p.m. concerts
Admission − Tickets, ranging from $89 to $150 for VIP, can be purchased at https://hartvillekitchen.com/events/ or by calling 330-877-9353.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Giddy up. Oak Ridge Boys member talks ‘Elvira’ and Hartville pies
Reporting by Ed Balint, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ed Balint, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
