Biography

Call 1.800.966.1380 to contact The Oak Ridge Boys booking agent, publicist, manager, pr firm, representative and management company for booking The Oak Ridge Boys speaker appearances, autograph signing, endorsement deals or hiring The Oak Ridge Boys as a keynote speaker for your next event. Find The Oak Ridge Boys official website information, speaker fees, booking fees, costs and schedule. The Oak Ridge Boys are a legendary country and gospel group. The group was founded in 1945 as the Oak Ridge Quartet and was changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s, and they remained a gospel-oriented group until the mid 1970s, when they changed their image and concentrated more on country and pop music.

The core group that would eventually lead to the Oak Ridge Boys first recorded together in 1943 as Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers. When Wally Fowler decided to focus on gospel music, he formed the Oak Ridge Quartet with himself, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey, and Johnny New. In 1949 the other three men split from Fowler to form a new group and Fowler hired an existing group, the Calvary Quartet, to re-form the Oak Ridge Quartet. In 1957, Fowler sold the rights to the "Oak Ridge Quartet" name to group member Smitty Gatlin in exchange for forgiveness of a debt.

As a result of more personnel changes, the group lost its tenor, so they lowered their arrangements and had Gatlin sing tenor while the pianist, Tommy Fairchild, sang lead. They recorded an album for Cadence Records, then in 1958 hired Willie Wynn to sing the tenor part while Fairchild moved back exclusively to the piano.

In 1961, Gatlin changed the group's name to "the Oak Ridge Boys" because their producer, Bud Praeger, thought "Oak Ridge Quartet" sounded too old-fashioned for their contemporary sound.

One of the longest-running groups in country music, the Oak Ridge Boys started life as a gospel quartet before gradually modernizing their style and moving into secular country-pop. Yet even at the height of their popularity in the late '70s and early '80s -- when they were big enough to cross over to the pop charts -- their sound always remained deeply rooted in country gospel harmony.

They grew into one of the most popular gospel acts of the late '60s, despite purist criticism over their secular influences and increasingly long-haired image. They won their first Grammy in 1970 for "Talk About the Good Times." In 1973, they recorded a single with Johnny Cash and the Carter Family called "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup," which brought them their first appearance on the country charts. In 1975, they opened a series of tour dates for Roy Clark, whose manager was highly impressed and encouraged them to try their hands at secular country.

The Oak Ridge Boys signed with Columbia later that year but found the initial transition a rough one: they split their time between country and gospel, and without a strong identity their sales dropped. The resulting financial problems nearly forced them to disband, and a discouraged Columbia gave up on them after the 1976 single "Family Reunion" barely charted, even though labelmate Paul Simon had tapped them to sing backup on his hit "Slip Slidin' Away."

Fortunately, they got another chance with MCA and scored a breakout Top Five hit in 1977 with "Y'all Come Back Saloon," the title song from their label debut. The follow-up, "You're the One," reached number two, and their next album, 1978's Room Service, gave them their first number one hit in "I'll Be True to You" as well as two more Top Five hits in "Cryin' Again" and "Come on In."

Thus established as country hitmakers, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on a run of chart success that would last through the '80s. They hit number one again in 1980 with "Trying to Love Two Women," but it was the following year that would make them a genuine phenomenon. Their recording of "Elvira," an obscure, doo wop-style novelty song from the '60s, became a major, Grammy-winning crossover smash. Not only did it hit number one on the country charts but also the Top Five on the pop charts. Its accompanying album, "Fancy Free," became their first to top the country charts, not to mention their biggest seller ever. The title cut of their chart-topping 1982 follow-up, "Bobbie Sue," also went number one country and nearly made the pop Top Ten as well.

"American Made's" title track also topped the charts in 1983, as did its follow-up, "Love Song." In early 1984, "Deliver" became their third number one country album, and they landed two more number one singles that year with "Everyday" and "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes." 1985 brought three number ones: "Little Things," "Make My Life with You," and "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend."

The Oak Ridge Boys' sales began to slow a bit in the latter half of the '80s, but they still produced big hits with regularity. They hit number one in 1987 ("It Takes a Little Rain," "This Crazy Love"), 1988 ("Gonna Take a Lot of River"), and 1990 ("No Matter How High"), giving them a total of 16 career country chart-toppers (and 29 Top Ten hits).

PFP Sports & Celebrity Talent PFP is a speakers bureau and booking agency providing The Oak Ridge Boys speaker, personal appearance and endorsement information. Booking The Oak Ridge Boys for appearances, as a motivational speaker, keynote speaker, for a fundraising event, grand opening, television or radio commercial, PR campaign or trade show is easy through our agency. For more info, contact The Oak Ridge Boys through PFP Sports & Celebrity Talent at 1.800.966.1380.