Joe Bonsall opened Sunday night's Oak Ridge Boys concert at the Stranahan Theater by joking that the guys "have been singing since the Earth began to cool."
Then Bonsall spent much of the night sprinting back and forth across the stage, proving that he is still young at heart.
Fans often ask Bonsall, Richard Sterban, William Lee Golden, and Duane Allen when they'll be slowing down or fading away into retirement.
There are no plans for that, and that's a good thing, because country music and the nation still need the Oaks and their uplifting message.
Sunday night’s concert followed a familiar pattern for those who have attended previous Christmas shows from the Country Music Hall of Famers: playing of the hits, Santa Claus, story time, and the portion focused on the birth of Jesus.
VIDEO: Oak Ridge Boys at Stranahan Theater
The opening 40-minute segment was filled with chart hits, and there have been plenty of those over the years since Bonsall joined the group in 1973, but none bigger than “Elvira.”
At the beginning of the show, Bonsall joked: “People always ask us if we’re going to sing ‘Elvira’ at our Christmas show. Yeah, we’re going to sing it. I think it’s a law in most states that we have to sing that song.”
“Elvira” is one of the most iconic singles in country music history, but it is easy to forget some of the other big hits by the Oak Ridge Boys: “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” “American Made,” and “Thank God for Kids.” Each of those hits was included in the opening half of the night, and each was sung really. Despite performing at least 150 dates a year for the last 40 years, the Oaks still have amazing vocals and tight harmonies. There were more than a few tears in the auditorium as Golden was featured in “Thank God for Kids,” tipping his cowboy hat to the standing crowd as he finished.
But this show was mostly about Christmas. Many people don’t realize that the Oak Ridge Boys began as a gospel quartet, before they crossed over into mainstream country in the mid-1970s, so Christmas matters deeply to the four men. Their message and presentation was deeply appreciated by those in the crowd.
Bonsall, at one point, referenced the dark and uncertain times that the world is facing. The Christmas half of the night was an escape from all of that, a return to a more innocent time. There were traditional favorites like “Jingle Bells,” “Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and “Let It Snow,” which was performed with snow falling from the rafters.
Santa Claus made an appearance and handed out gifts to some in the audience. At another point, he was serenaded with “Santa Claus Is Real,” one of the more recent Oak Ridge Boys Christmas songs.
At one point, rocking chairs were brought onto the stage, and the men sat in front of a fireplace prop. “I think these rocking chairs might add 10 more years to our career,” Allen said, and a voice from the audience shouted: “We sure hope so.”
The men shared stories from their youth, and why Christmas was special. It was a rare example of artists truly trying to connect with their crowd during a concert, and it was very much appreciated by the nearly packed house.
The highlight of the night, however, was the “Jesus” portion. The crowd was invited to sing along to “Silent Night,” giving the auditorium the feel of a Christmas Eve service. Allen was featured on “Rest In You Tonight.” He wiped away a tear as he finished. Golden offered a powerful performance on “Mary, Did You Know?” He received an extended ovation from the crowd.
The holiday season is a magical time, restoring hope to many who have lost it. During an interview with The Blade two weeks ago, Bonsall said that the group’s goal is to uplift and give a blessing to those who come to their shows. They did that Sunday night, bringing a little magic and joy to the Stranahan.
Contact Brian Dugger at bdugger@theblade.com or on Twitter @DuggerCountry.
First Published November 27, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
