Joe Bonsall
Joe Bonsall | |
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Bonsall in 2013 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr. |
Born | (1948-05-18)May 18, 1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | July 9, 2024(2024-07-09) (aged 76) Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Genres | Country, gospel |
Occupation(s) | Singer, author |
Years active | 1973–2024 |
Formerly of | The Oak Ridge Boys |
Website | www |
Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr. (May 18, 1948 – July 9, 2024) was an American singer who was the tenor vocalist of the country and gospel vocal quartet the Oak Ridge Boys from 1973 to 2023.[1] Besides charting numerous hits as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys, Bonsall had a solo chart credit alongside the band Sawyer Brown in their 1986 single "Out Goin' Cattin'", on which he was credited as "Cat Joe Bonsall".
Biography
Bonsall was born on May 18, 1948 in Philadelphia, to Joseph Sloan Bonsall Sr., and Lillie Maude Collins, who both served in World War II.[2][3] He also had a sister, Nancy Marie.
Bonsall performed in gospel groups of the Northeastern United States before joining the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973.[2] As an author, Bonsall released a four-part children's book series in 1997 titled The Molly Books[4] and in 2003 published GI Joe and Lillie,[5] a book about his parents' lives during and after World War II. He also authored On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys, An American Journey, From My Perspective, and An Inconvenient Christmas. His latest book, I See Myself, a memoir, is slated to be released posthumously in November 2024.[6]
Bonsall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys.[3]
Illness and death
Bonsall missed several tour dates in 2022 and was hospitalized for what at the time was stated to be pulmonary embolisms;[7] by 2023, Bonsall developed what he described as "a bad leg. It doesn't hurt, it's just—bad."[8] For the group's farewell tour, Bonsall sang sitting on a stool and had to be assisted on and off the stage by fellow band member Duane Allen.[8] On January 3, 2024, Bonsall released a statement announcing his retirement from touring with the Oak Ridge Boys due to a "slow-onset neuromuscular disease" (posthumously revealed as being amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS) that was diagnosed in 2019. For the rest of the tour, Ben James sang in Bonsall's stead.[9]
Bonsall died due to complications of ALS in Hendersonville, Tennessee, on July 9, 2024, at the age of 76.[6][10][11]
Discography
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [12] | CAN Country [13] | |||
1986 | "Out Goin' Cattin'" (Sawyer Brown with "Cat" Joe Bonsall) | 11 | 4 | Out Goin' Cattin' |
References
- ^ "The Oak Ridge Boys : Biography". CMT.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
- ^ a b Hurst, Jack (October 13, 1984). "The Unlikely Rise And Continuing Reign of the Strangely-Rooted Oaks". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Friskics-Warren, Bill (July 10, 2024). "Joe Bonsall, Tenor Voice of the Oak Ridge Boys, Dies at 76". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Oak Ridge Boys". www.oakridgeboys.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
- ^ The full title of the book is "G.I. Joe & Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love and Loyalty" (2003) New Leaf Press ISBN 0-89221-537-2
- ^ a b Sherman, Maria; Huamani, Kaitlyn (July 9, 2024). "Joe Bonsall, celebrated tenor in the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, dies at 76". AP News. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Watts, Cindy (September 19, 2023). "The Oak Ridge Boys Announce Farewell Tour". CMT. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Aaron McCune Keeps Bass Singing Alive with Oak Ridge Boys, Dailey & Vincent. Saving Country Music. February 3, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Black, Lauren Jo (January 3, 2024). "Joe Bonsall Bids Farewell to The Oak Ridge Boys After Five Decades on the Road". Country Now. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ Willman, Chris (July 9, 2024). "Joe Bonsall, Mainstay of Country Music's Oak Ridge Boys for 50 Years, Dies at 76". Variety. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Grein, Paul (July 9, 2024). "Joe Bonsall, Longtime Member of The Oak Ridge Boys, Dies at 76". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Sawyer Brown - Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ "Sawyer Brown - Country Singles". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Joe Bonsall discography at Discogs
- Joe Bonsall at IMDb
- v
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- Duane Allen
- William Lee Golden
- Richard Sterban
- Ben James
- Joe Bonsall
- Steve Sanders
- Y'all Come Back Saloon
- Room Service
- The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived
- Together
- Fancy Free
- Bobbie Sue
- American Made
- Deliver
- Step On Out
- Seasons
- Where the Fast Lane Ends
- Heartbeat
- Monongahela
- American Dreams
- Unstoppable
- The Journey
- Common Thread
- A Gospel Journey
- The Boys Are Back
- It's Only Natural
- Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits 2
- Greatest Hits 3
- Christmas
- "Y'all Come Back Saloon"
- "You're the One"
- "I'll Be True to You"
- "Cryin' Again"
- "Come On In"
- "Sail Away"
- "Dream On"
- "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight"
- "Trying to Love Two Women"
- "Heart of Mine"
- "Beautiful You"
- "Elvira"
- "(I'm Settin') Fancy Free"
- "Bobbie Sue"
- "So Fine"
- "I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (And Left My Heart Alone)"
- "Thank God for Kids"
- "American Made"
- "Love Song"
- "Ozark Mountain Jubilee"
- "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes"
- "Everyday"
- "Make My Life with You"
- "Little Things"
- "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"
- "Come On In (You Did the Best You Could Do)"
- "Juliet"
- "You Made a Rock of a Rolling Stone"
- "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)"
- "This Crazy Love"
- "Time In"
- "True Heart"
- "Gonna Take a Lot of River"
- "Bridges and Walls"
- "Beyond Those Years"
- "An American Family"
- "No Matter How High"
- "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"
- "Lucky Moon"
- "Change My Mind"
- "Seven Nation Army"
- "Same Ole Me" (with George Jones)
- "When You Get to the Heart (with Barbara Mandrell)
- "Out Goin' Cattin'" (Sawyer Brown with Joe Bonsall)
- "Broken Trust" (with Brenda Lee)
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