Country
music superstars, the Oak Ridge Boys rolled
into Yonkers
Sunday evening and performed an energetic set as part of Empire City Casino’s 2014
Summer Concert Series. Few recording acts have achieved the success that the Oak Ridge Boys have and on this starlit
night beneath a Lucky Moon,
concertgoers bore witness to a true piece of country music history.
“Most
every song you’ll hear us sing tonight has been a number one country music
record in one decade or another,” tenor lead and master of ceremonies Joe
Bonsall exclaimed proudly.
Currently
touring in support of their latest release, Boys
Night Out, the mighty Oaks
unleashed a barrage of hits including You’re
The One, Trying To Love Two Women,
Dream On, No Matter How High, American Made, Thank God For Kids and the
iconic Elvira, which topped both the
country and pop charts in 1981 and launched the band from household name to
legendary status. Singer Richard Sterban’s bass vocals and signature oom poppa oom poppa mow mow remain
timeless and thoroughly intact. Other highlights included Louisiana Red Dirt Highway; a William Lee Golden solo recording
that earned the singer a number one video accolade in 1987 and Mama’s Table; a 2009 release with all
the earmarks of the classic Oak Ridge
Boys sound warmly anchored by lead singer Duane Allen.
Boys Night Out marks the Oak Ridge Boys
first live album in a career that has spanned over four decades. Released on
the immensely successful Indie label Cleopatra
Records, the disc containing 14 classics has been distributed worldwide.
“I
just learned that our live version of American
Made recently reached the top of the charts…in Portugal,” lampooned Bonsall. “So
there is that.”
Deviating
from the seemingly endless train of hit songs in the set list, the band
performed their raucous rendition of Ramblin’
Man; a tune tailor made for the Oak
Ridge Boys rich vocal harmonies that will be included on a soon to be
released Allman Brothers tribute album also on the Cleopatra label.
On
the road this year for some 150 dates and with more than 41 million records
sold over the span of their career, the Oak
Ridge Boys show little sign of slowing down; their unbridled enthusiasm and
energy guaranteeing many more Boy’s Nights
Out in the future.
