Joe Bonsall, who served as the tenor for the legendary country and gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys for many years, has passed away.
According to a statement released by his band, Joe passed away on Tuesday as a consequence of difficulties resulting from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
For more than four years, he has been fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s illness. In January, he made the announcement that he would be withdrawing from the group’s farewell tour.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame. Joe was also a member of The Oak Ridge Boys for half a century, during which time he contributed vocals for the band.
In addition to being a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Joe played the banjo. He is also the author of eleven books, one of which is a memoir that is scheduled to be released in November and is titled “I See Myself.”
Joe spent his childhood in Philadelphia and joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1973. According to his relatives, he enjoyed working on his Tennessee farm and was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.
According to Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Joe will be remembered as the “sparkplug” for The Oak Ridge Boys and as “as exciting a performer as any who ever hit a gospel or country stage.”
Joe’s “tenor voice was high and clear, and his jovial spirit always provided a jolt of energy, immediately rousing audiences to come on in and take a load off,” Kyle says. Joe’s jovial mood brought a rush of enthusiasm to the crowd. Whenever he sang, he definitely made our worries seem less significant.