Richard Sterban — bass singer for the Oak Ridge Boys — useless at 83
Richard Sterban, longtime bass singer for the Grammy-winning Oak Ridge Boys, has died. He was 83.
Sterban died Saturday at his dwelling in Hendersonville, Tenn., from issues of bronchitis and pneumonia following a protracted battle with most cancers, in line with a assertion from his household and the band’s rep.
“We respect all your love, assist, and prayers. Please proceed to elevate us up on this troublesome time, we discover consolation understanding that he’s presently head to head with Jesus,” his household stated in an announcement.
Sterban was pressured to step away from touring with the quartet in 2025 resulting from well being points, however reunited with the group in January 2026 to carry out their 1981 hit “Elvira” on the Grand Ole Opry.
Born in 1943 in Camden, NJ, Sterban grew up in close by Collingswood and started singing in Sunday faculty at age 6 as a soprano, earlier than his voice dropped to the deep bass that turned his trademark.
Sterban graduated from Collingswood Excessive Faculty and went on to check music at Trenton State School, now referred to as the School of New Jersey.
Sterban moved to Nashville in 1970, the place he labored as a backup singer for Elvis Presley.
He left the job in 1972 to hitch the Oak Ridge Boys, alongside lead singer Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden and tenor Joe Bonsall.
Sterban turned finest identified for his signature “oom poppa mow mow” bass line in “Elvira.”
The tune reached No. 1 on the nation chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Scorching 100, serving to propel them into mainstream success. Different hits included “Bobbie Sue” and “American Made.”
Over time, the Oak Ridge Boys scored 34 nation Prime 10 singles, together with 17 No. 1 hits, and received 5 Grammy Awards.
Additionally they carried out for a number of presidents, toured with Johnny Money and offered backup vocals on Paul Simon’s “Slip Slidin’ Away.”
The quartet was inducted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame in 2015.
Nation Music Corridor of Fame CEO Kyle Younger remembered Sterban as a key determine within the style.
“He used his unmistakable bass voice to attach industrial nation music to its deep gospel roots,” Younger stated, calling him “a gradual drive and a foundational determine in nation music.”
“He’ll go down in historical past as one of many biggest bass singers of all time,” Grand Ole Opry member T. Graham Brown stated in tribute to Sterban.
Sterban referred to as Hendersonville dwelling for greater than 50 years. In October 2025, town devoted the Oak Ridge Boys Bridge over Drakes Creek on Johnny Money Parkway within the group’s honor.
“There is no such thing as a higher honor than to be honored by your hometown,” Sterban stated on the time.
He’s survived by his spouse, Donna; daughters Lauren and Tori; sons Wealthy, Doug and Chris; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
