Earlier today, John Bonsall from the Oak Ridge Boys passed after a long battle with ALS {Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis]. He was 76 years old. I got to meet him in 2019, and really, the entire band couldn’t have been nicer. I had wanted to see The Oak Ridge Boys in concert for many years and was blessed to finally attend their concert with Alabama in Salem, VA. It was a night I won’t forget. Other people have been equally touched by getting to meet or know Bonsall. Here we share artists reflecting on the passing of Joe Bonsall.
Artists Reflect On The Passing Of Joe Bonsall From The Oak Ridge Boys
“He was amazing talent ….friend ….and legend. The world of country music lost a great talent ….but the angels in heaven gained an incredible voice.”
– Billy Ray Cyrus
“The world has lost a familiar and beloved voice. Heaven welcomes another tenor to the Choir. See you there, Joe.” – Dennis Quaid
“Heartbreaking to hear the news about Joe Bonsall passing. Joey was a true road brother and a great friend for many years. Deepest Condolences to his family and to all the Oak Ridge Boys organization and his many fans.” – David and Howard Bellamy, The Bellamy Brothers
“So very sorry to learn that our dear friend Joe Bonsall of the The Oak Ridge Boys has passed. What a great man and great artist he was. Prayers to his family, friends and to his Oak Ridge Boys family.” – Gene Watson
“Along with the rest of the world I was saddened this morning to learn of the passing of the multi-talented Joe Bonsall. Joe was a great singer, the consummate performer, and a dear friend. We not only had country music in common, but he loved baseball just as much as I do, and we had many friendly discussions as to which was the better team…his Philadelphia Phillies or my Atlanta Braves. I won’t say any money ever changed hands, but I won’t deny it either. I will think of Joe and miss him with every high note I hear sung and every crack of the bat that echoes across the summer skies. Rest in peace, my friend. You were truly one-of-a-kind.” – Bill Anderson
“I grew up listening to The Oak Ridge Boys. They were a gospel group at the time I grew up and my grandmother loved them and our other family members who also had gospel groups were influenced by them. Their harmonies have always been rich and pleasing to the ears. You could hear each individual voice through the iconic blend of their voices. There was and is something very special in their sound. I am saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Bonsall. He is singing with the angels and will be truly missed.” – Harry Wayne Casey, KC and the Sunshine Band
“Those stand out tenor vocals from Joe and the blend he created with the Oak Ridge Boys will never be matched.” – Taylor Hicks
“Joe was such a nice guy. I love the Oak Ridge Boys, and Joe was so friendly whenever we performed together. He always had a smile on his face. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.” – Phil Vassar
“As a member of Little Texas, I was always inspired by the harmonies of The Oaks. My heart goes out to Joe’s family. God bless him; he will be greatly missed.” – Brady Seals
“From his early days in southern gospel music to his successful career in country, Joe was an encourager to other artists and always celebrated the wins of others. We didn’t just lose a great entertainer… we lost one of our highest cheerleaders.” – Mickey Bell
“The brothers and I have always loved listening to the harmonies of The Oak Ridge Boys! Joe Bonsall will be missed! He’s definitely singing with the angels today!” – Chad Sitze, Flat River Band
“We are saddened by the passing of one of the great voices of a generation. Joe and the rest of The Oaks paved the way for harmony groups like us and did so with a great amount of class. Our hearts go out to his family both on the road and at home. Thanks for the music, Joe Bonsall!” – Due West
“We’re saddened by the news of Joe Bonsall’s passing. What an amazing talent and an incredible career spanning 50+ years. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire Oak Ridge Boys team.” – Maggie McClure and Shane Henry, The Imaginaries
“I was sad to hear about Joe today. He was such a great singer and entertainer, but above that, he was a wonderful person! I shall always treasure the great laughs we had and his words of encouragement to me very early in my career. Jamie and I send love and prayers to his family and friends during this time. We love you, Joe!” –John Anderson (Country Music Hall of Fame Member Elect)
“I’ve known that this day would be coming sooner than later. The Oaks have had their share of sorrows and pain the last few months with the passing of Dwayne’s precious wife Nora Lee, Bill’s recent loss of his son Rusty, and now the passing of our dear friend Joe. It’s been a lot for all of them to deal with. My prayer is that we as a music community and fellow believers in Jesus would pray for and reach out to the Oaks. The winds of change have blown really hard against them, but I know too that they are men of faith and they will get through this. ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.’ (2 Corinthians 5:7-8, NKJV.)” –Ricky Skaggs (Country Music Hall of Fame Member)
“We lost an Oak Ridge Boy, but the Heavenly Choir just got a fine new tenor. Rest in peace Joe Bonsall.” –Ray Stevens (Country Music Hall of Fame Member)
“Joe Bonsall was one of a kind! He was an amazing person and wonderful friend! I always loved the soul and joy in his incredible voice! As an entertainer his presence was electric and lit up the stage! I especially loved his tender heart for his family and friends, including Barney, his cat. My heart is with his beautiful, beloved wife Mary and his family at this time of deep loss. We will all love you and miss you forever, Joe.” –Deborah Allen
“The Oak Ridge Boys’ camp has suffered two losses with the passing of my friend Rusty Golden, son of William Lee Golden and Oak Ridge Boy tenor, Joe Bonsall. Their music is their testimony to a life of service, to God our creator, where they both dwell in harmony in heaven this day.”-Billy Dean
“I wrote a song for Joe a while back that he wanted to record. Here’s the first verse:
I did my share of bus drivin…
Loadin and unloadin
When there was work to be done never once did I run and hide
I sang every song from my heart
Never once phoned in my part
I was not just along for the ride
SWEET JESUS knows
I was not just along for the ride…”
-Larry Gatlin
“My heart is aching from hearing the news of the passing of my buddy Joe Bonsall. Or ‘Brother Bonsall’ as I liked to call him! He was a friend for 50 years, ever since he joined the Oak Ridge Boys, and friends of ours for 60 years! He was an amazing guy, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and a great friend to so many! When he got a little sick in July 2022, I filled in for him a few times at the Oaks’ shows. And believe me, it wasn’t easy! I had to sing my ever-lovin’ butt off! His love of singing and entertaining with the Boys is legendary! Seriously, I don’t know anyone who enjoyed singing more than Joe Bonsall! I thought about Joe just last week. I was gonna call just to check up on him, to see how he’s doing and dang, but something came up and I didn’t get around to it. Well Joe, if you can hear me now, I love ya, gonna miss ya and can’t wait to see you on the other side!” -Rudy Gatlin (“or as you called me, ‘Brother Gatlin'”)
“In this wonderful world, we are given the beginning, many friends, a blessing, and the end. God Bless Joe, The Oak Ridge Boys and family.” –Doug Gray, The Marshall Tucker Band
“It’s been a terrible week for The Oaks. Ever since I met Joe he has been very, very kind to me. God bless him and rest in peace.” –Sammy Kershaw
“Joe Bonsall was one of the charming musical personalities that made The Oak Ridge Boys so incredibly popular. Joe’s youthful spirit drove their on-stage appeal. Joe’s passing is a real shock and totally unexpected. My heart goes out to his family and friends.”-Henry Paul, The Outlaws / BlackHawk
“Our condolences to Mary and the Bonsall family. It’s truly hard to see someone so energetic and so full of life as Joe was to leave here. He was a showman, and he was a friend to many. He was a Country Music Hall of Famer, but the best thing he would say of himself was he was a saved man and a loving husband. Nuff said.” –Marty Raybon, Shenandoah
“This is not just another devastating loss to our business, this is a limb gone from the MIGHTY OAKS. There has never been a group like them. They have been a part of our lives in so many ways, sharing not only their music but their personal lives and families. Joe was a major part of that strength. His personality and smile reached out and grabbed you as much as that unmistakable voice. Somehow I believe those are etched in our memories, never to be forgotten.”-Jeannie Seely
“My heart is broken. I’ve known Joe Bonsall since I was a teenager. The Oak Ridge Boys were friends of my dad, and I learned how to sing harmony listening to ORB albums all the way back to their gospel days. Joe has been a baseball buddy, and we just talked about life and sports riding down the road. Rest in peace brother BanJoey! You will be missed.”–Larry Stewart, The Frontmen / Restless Heart
“I woke up today to the very sad news of Joe Bonsall’s passing. Even though I’d been somewhat expecting it, I still was hopeful something would improve to keep him going. The Lord has taken him Home. He was always SO kind and supportive to me. Always making comments in public of what he thought of me with that big room-filling personality. I’ll always be grateful to him for that support. I will miss his energy, his kindness and his spirit. This is a sad day for our industry and for The Mighty Oak Ridge Boys. Joe, I know you are with our Lord now. We’ll sure miss you here.”-Collin Raye
“Joe Bonsall was one of the biggest influences on me as an entertainer. When I put my show together I wanted it to be as crazy as Hank Jr., as theatrical as Reba and as energetic as Joe. He was an amazing performer but more importantly, an amazing man. He’ll be greatly missed. Our family sends love and prayers to his.” –Aaron Tippin
“You know, The Kentucky Headhunters had two basket lists of acts we would love to play with. One was the Rolling Stones and the other was The Oak Ridge Boys. Both are the reason several types of music lives and breathes. Joe was the Mick Jagger of country and soulful gospel music and helped bring country to a new horizon with The Oaks. God Bless.”-Richard Young / The Kentucky Headhunters