Joe Bonsall, tenor singer for the Oak Ridge Boys passed away earlier this month. Bonsall was more than the lead singer on many of the group’s biggest hits. He was also a beloved member of the country music community. Over the years, the Philadelphia native made many friends in the genre including Vince Gill.
Bonsall died on July 9. Three days later, Gill took the stage at the Opry and used his abbreviated set to pay tribute to his late friend. That night, he played the Oak Ridge Boys classic “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” Additionally, remaining ORB members Richard Sterban and Duane Allen joined Gill for a rendition of Elvira. Watch him take the lead on the megahit below.
[RELATED: 3 Timeless Oak Ridge Boys Hits Featuring Joe Bonsall’s Lead Vocals]
Vince Gill Covered an Oak Ridge Boys Classic
Vince Gill knew that he couldn’t properly do a tribute to a late member of the Oak Ridge Boys without performing their signature song. However, “Elvira” had a long history before the group picked it up in the early ‘80s and made it a major hit.
Dallas Frazier wrote the song and released the original version of it in 1966. Then, in 1978, Rodney Crowell released “Elvira” as his debut single. Both artists saw minor chart success with the track. However, it was the Oak Ridge Boys’ version of the song with Joe Bonsall singing lead that made the song popular.
They released it as a single from their 1981 album Fancy Free, it topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. However, that wasn’t all. It also reached No. 5 on the publication’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, giving the group a massive crossover hit.
“Elvira” was more than just a hit song for the Oaks, though. It went on to be one of their signature song and a staple of their concerts. Between Bonsall’s tenor leading the way and Richard Sterban’s bass vocals on the iconic “oom pa-pa mow mow” chorus, it went down in history as a song that fans always want to hear.
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