Oak Ridge Boys to perform at fair
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

Pictured above, The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at the Steuben County Fair at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OAK RIDGE BOYS

BATH - One of the music world's oldest country and gospel groups will perform at the Steuben County Fair, which opens next month at the county fairgrounds in Bath.

The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 in the grandstand. The renown group's appearance will be a first for the 189th annual fair.

The original band has gone through countless changes in personnel since it originally appeared as "Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers" in 1943. The current membership consists of Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. Golden himself has had two separate runs with the band, the first from 1965 to 1987 and the second from 1995 to the present. Allen began singing with the band in 1966.

Founder Waller Fowler, who died in 1994, renamed the band The Oak Ridge Quartet with the intent of focusing on gospel music; the name changed to The Oak Ridge Boys in 1961 when the band's producer decided Oak Ridge Quartet sounded too formal.

The band evolved towards a more country style of music, performing along the way with musical greats like Roy Clark and Paul Simon. Along the way it won numerous Grammy awards and recorded songs that were popular not only on the country music charts, but in the mainstream pop world, as well. "Elvira," a song that appeared on the group's 1981 album "Fancy Free" became a #1 country hit and reached #5 on the pop charts. It was recorded by other artists, as well, including Kenny Rogers and Dallas Frazier.

The group's prolific output has continued into the 2000s, with the 2005 album "Common Thread" and the 2006 album "Front Row Seats."

General admission tickets are $15; reserved seats, $20, and track seating, $25. Tickets may be reserved by calling the fairgrounds office at 776-4801.

Oak Ridge Boys
7:30 p.m. Aug. 16
Steuben County Fair