Monday, July 07, 2014

Boys Night Out with the Legendary Oak Ridge Boys



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.