Longtime Oak Ridge Boys member dies at 76

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - Joe Bonsall, a longtime member of the Oak Ridge Boys, died Tuesday. He was 76.

The band made the announcement Tuesday morning, saying Bonsall died from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS.

Bonsall was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and had been inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Oak Ridge Boys, a country group, is best known for their 1981 hit song, “Elvira,” which had crossover pop success, Variety said. The band had more than a dozen no. 1 country songs.

Bonsall was also the author of 11 books, including an upcoming memoir “I See Myself.”

The Bonsall family has asked that people donate to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center in his honor. There will be no funeral, per his wishes.

The band said of Bonsall, who has been with the group for 50 years: “Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write. He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first—and we will see him again on the Promised Day.”