Joe Bonsall, a longtime member of country music mainstay the Oak Ridge Boys, passed away today (July 9) at age 76. Reports indicate that the tenor, who joined the group in 1973, due to complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The neuromuscular disorder had already forced Bonsall to retire from the Oak Ridge Boys earlier this year. All day long, condolences and remembrances poured in for the Oak Ridge Boys’ “sparkplug.” Country stars like Blake Shelton and Travis Tritt took to social media to express their grief.
Blake Shelton “Heartbroken” To Hear of Joe Bonsall’s Death
Blake Shelton is mourning the loss of Joe Bonsall alongside the rest of the country music community. The “Austin” singer shared a heartfelt tribute to the Oak Ridge Boy to social media.
[RELATED: 4 Essential Oak Ridge Boys Deep Cuts That Every Fan Should Know]
“I’m heartbroken to hear of my friend Joe Bonsalls passing,” Shelton wrote on X/Twitter. “I’ve NEVER seen Joe when he wasn’t smiling and completely full of life. He absolutely loved singing like no one I ever met. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his @oakridgeboys brothers. We all lost a special person today.”
Blake Shelton performed with the Oak Ridge Boys multiple times during his two-decade career. Notably, the Southern gospel outfit joined Shelton on his 2016 track “Doing It to Country Songs.”
Travis Tritt Remembers Joe Bonsall’s “Amazing Talent,” “Wonderful Personality”
GRAMMY-winning country artist Travis Tritt also took time to remember Bonsall on social media. “My heart is heavy this morning after hearing that my friend @oakridgeboys tenor @joebonsall has passed away at the age of 76,” Tritt wrote on X/Twitter. “Joe had amazing talent and a wonderful personality and he will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him. Joe is with our Lord Jesus now and that brings me some comfort. My heartfelt condolences go out to Joe’s wife, Mary Ann, his children and all his extended family. RIP.”
Like Blake Shelton, Tritt has shared a stage with Bonsall many times. In fact, the “Whiskey Ain’t Workin'” singer was part of one of the singer’s final performances before health issues forced him to retire from touring in January. Tritt shared a video of himself performing “When God Dips His Love” alongside the Oak Ridge Boys.
“I cannot express the gratitude I feel that I had a chance to sing good gospel music with these legendary performers,” Tritt wrote.
Featured image by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Thunder USA
Most Popular
Comments / 0