Oak Ridge Boys to perform at Turfway Park as part of their ‘Farewell Tour’ on Friday evening

By Andy Furman
NKyTribune reporter

The decision was a toughie – but the right one for Richard Sterban. “I was singing backup for Elvis Presley and touring with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet at the time,” Sterban told the Northern Kentucky Tribune . “When Golden (William T.) called – he was more GQ back then, I had to make the decision.” (Golden is a member of the Oak Ridge Boys).

That was 52 years ago when he joined the Oak Ridge Boys, who make one of their Farewell Tour stops Friday evening at Turfway Park Racing and Gaming. Doors open at 8 p.m., performance is 9 p.m.

“Really, I was a big fan of the Oak Ridge Boys back then. I thought they really had potential; so, I followed my heart.”

Yet he admits, he didn’t think the group would last this long.

“We love what we do,” said the man who grew-up in Collingswood, New Jersey, and attended Trenton State College. “We look forward to performing on stage; and more than that, we certainly have a special relationship with each other – we’re friends. We respect the needs for each other.”

Serban says the group not only pulls together as a team, he admits they are too old to let little things bother them.

One thing still haunts the Hall of Fame group – the passing of fellow singer Joe Bonsall.

“It’s been a difficult period of time, to say the least,” Serban said. “But we have new energy in 28-year-old Ben James. He was basically hand-picked by Joe top take his place.”

James previously was a singer in a group called Dailey and Vincent – somewhat bluegrass/gospel kind of group, and about a year-and-a-half, two years ago, they were doing a show with the Oak Ridge Boys.

“When we sang ‘Elvira’ at the end of our show – and we’ll do it at Turfway Park too – they came out and sang on stage ‘Elvia’ with us, and Joe, who sings the lead vocal on ‘Elvia,’ he sang the first verse, like he usually does,” Serban said.

And when they got to the second verse; Joe handed the mic to Ben – who was standing there.

“We all turned around and looked at each other and went, wow, this young kid could sing, and then when Joe decided it was time for him to leave the group, he stayed in contact with Ben, and Joe recommended that we hire Ben as his replacement; so, Ben was hand-picked by Joe,” Serban said.

The term Farewell Tour is somewhat of a misnomer, says Serban. “What we want to do – and we’ve been very blessed for 52 years — is take time and go to as many places to say thank-you to our fans and those responsible for our great career,” he said. “This tour really has no end date yet; in fact, we’re booking dates for at least two years.”

That’s a long-time away from his other love – baseball. Richard Serban was a part-owner of the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers AAA club). “I’m no longer an owner,” he said, “but still a big fan.”

For many years he attended spring training and took bus trips with the team. He calls himself the team’s “official ambassador.”

And Vanderbilt baseball is also high on his list. “I do color commentary for the games,” he said.

As a kid, he says, he dreamt of playing baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Serban quickly draws the line between his music and his love of sports. “They’re two different things,” he said. “Baseball is my passion, my hobby, my diversion. Music is my life’s work.”

It certainly is. He always had a love of music. In fact, he got his start singing as a soprano in his church choir. When his voice changed, he moved into his signature bass range.

But he immediately went back to Vandy football, and their recent win over Alabama.

“Vandy is a different team this year,” he said. “I thought they would give ‘Bama a hard time. I watched the Vandy-Kentucky game on my deck in Key West, Fla., last weekend, and saw the Commodores with an SEC road win. I am surprised they are not ranked.”

Before you shed a tear for the end of the Oak Ridge Boys reign – the award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members are set to release their new album, Mama’s Boys from Lightning Rod/Thirty Tigers, Friday, October 25th.

This project makes their fifth collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and was recorded at Historic RCA Studio A and Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tenn.

Where else would the Oak Ridge Boys record?

Tickets for Oak Ridge Boys at Turfway here.

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