When the Oak Ridge Boys take the stage at the Alabama Theatre on Saturday, April 18, their introduction will be a little bit longer and a lot more meaningful.
Make that the “Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee” Oak Ridge Boys, who will make a celebratory stop at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach as part of their 2015 tour. Their Alabama Theatre show will be the second stop on their US Tour, and just their second show since the CMA announced their induction in March.
The honor has been a long time coming for one of the top crossover gospel acts in country music history. Although the band's origins go back more than 70 years to the original Oak Ridge Quartet, the members that made the band famous are still together after nearly a half-century and will perform live on stage to a sellout crowd.
Known worldwide for their four-part harmonies and catchy melodies, the Oak Ridge Boys brought gospel music into the mainstream in the 1970s and '80s. The lineup of lead vocalist Duane Allen, tenor Joe Bonsall, baritone William Lee Golden and bottom-of-the-barrel bassist Richard Sterban teamed up to set the country music world afire.
In the decade between 1977 and 1987, the Oak Ridge Boys recorded a total of 15 hits that reached No. 1 on the country charts, including “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue,” and 26 songs that made the Top 10 of the countdown. Along with the hits came millions of records sold and countless awards won, concert venues played and fans converted.
While the Oak Ridge Boys have been enjoying life in the slow lane for much of the past quarter century, the quartet still performs together in a limited capacity for special shows and occasions. But with their recent accolades and realizing they are nearing the end of their illustrious careers, the band decided to put together one final tour to say farewell to their fans and thank them with one final stroll down musical memory lane.
Fans attending the concert at the Alabama Theatre can expect to hear hits and lesser known classic from throughout their 50-year career, such as “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” “I’ll Be True to You,” “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” “American Made,” “Fancy Free,” “I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes,” and “Touch a Hand, Make a Friend” – just to name a few.
Located in the heart of the Barefoot Landing entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the 2,000-seat Alabama Theatre features nightly live performances by touring musical acts as well as regularly scheduled shows in a small venue but in a professional setting. Featuring state-of-the-art lighting, sound and special effects, the Alabama Theatre is one of the best venues for an intimate show, especially ideal for the harmonies of acts like the Oak Ridge Boys.
The Alabama Theatre also features the award-winning and long-running “ONE: The Show,” which runs annually from February through October. Featuring off-Broadway style entertainers performing songs, dances and scenes designed to delight the entire family. The professional choreography and high-energy performance has dazzled audiences year after year. Among the many stars who have graced the Alabama Theatre are Vince Gill, The Temptations, the Kingston Trio, the Four Tops and, of course, theater-namesake Alabama.
Voted the No. 1 Live Theatre Attraction on the Grand Strand, the Alabama Theatre offers family entertainment seven nights a week with occasional matinees. Great seats are still available at the Alabama Theatre box office. Ticket prices vary based on seating sections. For more information about show times or to purchase advanced tickets, call 800-342-2262 or visit the website at www.alabamatheatre.com.
(Posted: 4/6/15)
