LAWTON – Back in the early 1970s, when bass vocalist Richard Sterban was a backup singer for Elvis Presley, he had no idea that one day he would be in the Country Music Hall of Fame right there alongside “the king.” And for Sterban it would be for his role in the beloved quartet The Oak Ridge Boys.
“It’s no secret, for about two years I sang with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. I sang with the biggest star in the world,” Sterban said. “Elvis was the king of rock n’ roll.”
Elvis was in the midst of a comeback and meeting in the White House with President Richard Nixon. On this particular tour Sterban was on, singing with the Stamps, it was supposed to conclude in Hawaii in early 1973, an event that would be the first time a single performer was broadcast to the world via satellite. But Sterban was feeling an urge for a change. And fate presented an opportunity.
When William Lee Golden, with the gospel-and-country-oriented Oak Ridge Boys, asked Sterban if he would take over bass vocal duties, Sterban knew he had a big decision to make.
“I wasn’t sure what to do. I loved the music of the Oak Ridge Boys, and I felt the group had great potential,” recalled Sterban during a recent phone interview with Southwest Chronicle. “Eventually I left Elvis to join the Oak Ridge Boys. As it turned out, I did the right thing and followed my heart. Of course, I had no way of knowing back then, singing background harmonies and seeing Elvis on stage, that I would be in the Country Music Hall of Fame with him.”
But that is exactly what happened.
“You just don’t know how things will work out in life,” he reflected.
Up until 2020, Sterban had been singing, recording and touring with the Oak Ridge Boys – which still includes Golden, Duane Allen and Joe Bonsall – and collecting hit songs including “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Leavin’ Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” “American Made,” “Someplace Green” and many more. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it prevented the Oaks from hitting the road as they did on an annual basis.
“During the pandemic, what we love doing was taken away from us and I almost felt like I was retired. I did not like that feeling,” Sterban said. “But now that we’re back out on the road, people are coming out in large numbers. I think people just want to get out and hear live music again. Live music is very special and healing in nature. We love taking our music live, out on stage and out there for our fans.”
The new album, Front Porch Singin’, which features the Oaks sitting in Cracker Barrel rocking chairs on the front cover, and songs which include traditional sounds like “Red River Valley” and a cover of bluesman Keb’ Mo’s song “Life Is Beautiful,” which kicks off the album.
“We recorded it during the pandemic,” Sterban said. “We wanted to give people (an album) that offered people some hope and some inspiration.”
“We are not going to get too carried away with the new music, however, so when we come to town, we’ll do the hit songs like ‘Elvira’ …” At this point, Sterban, the recognizable bass singer, broke out into his trademark “giddy up, oom-poppa, oom-poppa, mow-mow” from that 40-year old No. 1 hit song that helped the Oak Ridge Boys cross over into the realm of pop music and superstardom.
And while the Oak Ridge Boys’ average audience member is of retirement age, Sterban, 79, but looks 20 years younger, is excited to see young people coming to their shows.
“We’re seeing very good crowds,” he said. “No question our crowds are older. Young people want to come and check us out. It’s kind of a great feeling to see that. We see a wide demographic range – grandma and grandpa to young kids.”
When asked about their current stage show and if they are doing anything different, Sterban emphasizes that they are still the positive, fun, God-fearing and patriotic group they’ve always been, particularly when Golden introduces the fan favorite “Thank God For Kids.”
“William Lee Golden does such a great job communicating to people in the audience,” Sterban said. “We include a lot of gospel in our shows as well. Joe Bonsall, who is our spokesperson on stage, he says that with all the trouble in the world it is important to know that a little Jesus will help.”
Staying true to his All-American image, it is not surprising to learn that Sterban is a diehard baseball fan and at one point was a part owner of Minor League Baseball’s Nashville Sounds.
“I still go to the games,” the New Jersey native said, adding that he was looking to check in on a batting practice a little later. “We used to play the Oklahoma City Dodgers when we were in the same league. But MLB took over the minor leagues and restructured everything. I miss them.”
When asked if the group is planning on a follow-up to Front Porch Singin’, he admitted they were.
“We are already talking about a new album,” he said. “We are planning on doing another project down the road. Duane Allen is our song guy, and he has already played us some songs. We are definitely heading in that direction.”
Acknowledging that the Oak Ridge Boys are “living legends,” Sterban chuckled and admitted, “it’s pretty good to be a legend.”
Continuing, he said, “When we first came on the scene there were writers and reporters who accused us of not being ‘country enough.’ Now with all the changes in country music, we are considered classic country.”
Sterban published his autobiography in 2012, titled From Elvis To Elvira: My Life On Stage. In the book he talks about being the son of first-generation immigrants from Poland and Italy who settled in the Camden, New Jersey, area. It was there that his love of singing grew and eventually led him into the Oak Ridge Boys – a group that has had so much success over so many years.
Concluded Sterban: “We are so blessed. We have had such a great career.”
The Oak Ridge Boys are playing at the Apache Casino Hotel Event Center Friday, June 3. For tickets and details, visit apachecasinohotel.com.