GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys have released a music video for “Elvira” for the first time ever! In 1981, “Elvira” became a crossover pop smash with Joe Bonsall’s tenor lead and bass singer Richard Sterban’s unforgettable ‘oom papa mau mau’ refrain. The song brought the Oaks one of their five Grammy Awards, went double Platinum, and won the Single of the Year award from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, along with many other awards. To turn this video into the experience of the century, they invited several of their closest friends to appear in “Elvira,” including Andrea Pearson, Ben James, Big & Rich, Chase Matthew, Danni Stefanetti, Deborah Allen, Denzel & Angelina Irwin (aka Santa and Mrs. Claus from Santa’s Pub in Nashville), Hillary Williams, Kid Rock, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens, Stephon Riley, T. Graham Brown, Tenille Arts, The Gatlin Brothers, Tico Herandez, Trace Adkins, and Zach Williams. The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira” video was directed and produced by Brandon Wood / IndieBling and was premiered by Billboard.
“We’re particularly excited because so many of our friends could join us on what, believe it or not, is the first and only music video we’ve ever done for ‘Elvira,’” said Sterban. “And more than 40 years after it was released.”
“Brandon Wood, our music video director, was about four years old when the song came out, and like a lot of kids, as well as adults, at that time, he fell in love with the song. After we met him and started working with him in 2017, one of the first things Brandon told us was that he had always dreamed of putting together a music video for “Elvira.” The idea of doing that—and the concept he envisioned—came together in late 2023 when our record label got excited about it,” William Lee Golden added. “We also appreciate Logan Rogers the President of Lightning Rod Records for his enthusiasm for this project and everything we do with him.”
The Oak Ridge Boys continue to tour the country on their American Made Farewell Tour, which is still being booked. The Boys were also excited to launch their new website recently with a new look, store, videos, and more!
The Oak Ridge Boys have received four Academy of Country Music, two American Music, five Billboard, four Country Music Association, five Grammy, and twelve Gospel Music Association Dove awards, to name a few. They are members of the Grand Ole Opry, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. They have achieved seventeen #1 hits, including “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Trying To Love Two Women,” “(I’m Settin’) Fancy Free,” “American Made,” and the unforgettable “Elvira.” With an astounding thirty-seven Top 20 country hits, with twelve gold, three platinum, and one double-platinum album, The Oak Ridge Boys have long made their mark in every facet of the gospel, pop, and country music industry.
William Lee Golden (1965) and Duane Allen (1966) joined the group in the late sixties, followed by Richard Sterban in 1972 and Joe Bonsall in 1973. Ben James joined in January 2024 following Bonsall’s retirement.
Joe Bonsall retired from the road in January 2024 and spent the next few months finishing his personal memoir, I See Myself: Musings and Memories of a Blessed Life, which will be released in mid-November.
Comments