The Oak Ridge Boys Release Music Video For "Elvira" For The First Time Ever

By Timothy Yap Aug 07, 2024 05:46 PM EDT

GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys have released a music video for "Elvira" for the first time ever!

In 1981, "Elvira" became a crossover pop smash with Joe Bonsall's tenor lead and bass singer Richard Sterban's unforgettable 'oom papa mau mau' refrain. The song brought the Oaks one of their five Grammy Awards, went double Platinum, and won the Single of the Year award from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, along with many other awards.

To turn this video into the experience of the century, they invited several of their closest friends to appear in "Elvira," including Andrea Pearson, Ben James, Big & Rich, Chase Matthew, Danni Stefanetti, Deborah Allen, Denzel & Angelina Irwin (aka Santa and Mrs. Claus from Santa's Pub in Nashville), Hillary Williams, Kid Rock, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens, Stephon Riley, T. Graham Brown, Tenille Arts, The Gatlin Brothers, Tico Herandez, Trace Adkins, and Zach Williams. The Oak Ridge Boys' "Elvira" video was directed and produced by Brandon Wood / IndieBling and was premiered by Billboard.

To purchase/stream: orcd.co/orb-elvira

"We're particularly excited because so many of our friends could join us on what, believe it or not, is the first and only music video we've ever done for 'Elvira,'" said Sterban. "And more than 40 years after it was released."

"Brandon Wood, our music video director, was about four years old when the song came out, and like a lot of kids, as well as adults, at that time, he fell in love with the song. After we met him and started working with him in 2017, one of the first things Brandon told us was that he had always dreamed of putting together a music video for "Elvira." The idea of doing that-and the concept he envisioned-came together in late 2023 when our record label got excited about it," William Lee Golden added. "We also appreciate Logan Rogers the President of Lightning Rod Records for his enthusiasm for this project and everything we do with him."

The Oak Ridge Boys continue to tour the country on their American Made Farewell Tour, which is still being booked. The Boys were also excited to launch their new website recently with a new look, store, videos, and more!

The Oak Ridge Boys have received four Academy of Country Music, two American Music, five Billboard, four Country Music Association, five Grammy, and twelve Gospel Music Association Dove awards, to name a few. They are members of the Grand Ole Opry, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. They have achieved seventeen #1 hits, including "Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight," "Bobbie Sue," "Trying To Love Two Women," "(I'm Settin') Fancy Free," "American Made," and the unforgettable "Elvira." With an astounding thirty-seven Top 20 country hits, with twelve gold, three platinum, and one double-platinum album, The Oak Ridge Boys have long made their mark in every facet of the gospel, pop, and country music industry.

William Lee Golden (1965) and Duane Allen (1966) joined the group in the late sixties, followed by Richard Sterban in 1972 and Joe Bonsall in 1973. Ben James joined in January 2024 following Bonsall's retirement.

Joe Bonsall retired from the road in January 2024 and spent the next few months finishing his personal memoir, I See Myself: Musings and Memories of a Blessed Life, which will be released in mid-November.

"Elvira" Awards

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Single of the Year (Elvira), 1981

BROADCAST MUSIC INCORPORATED (BMI)

Most Performed Song of the Year (Elvira), 1981

CASHBOX

Country Crossover Group Pop/Singles, 1981

COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Single of the Year (Elvira), 1981

GRAMMY AWARDS

Best Vocal Performance by a Country Group or Duo (Elvira), 1982

JUKE BOX OPERATORS OF AMERICA

Song of the Year (Elvira), 1981

MUSIC CITY NEWS FAN AWARDS

Best Single of the Year (Elvira), 1982

RADIO & RECORDS COUNTRY MUSIC POLL

Single of the Year (Elvira), 1981

RECORD WORLD

Top Country Crossover Group, 1981

Upcoming Oak Ridge Boys Tour Dates Include:
AUG 15 - Harvester Performance Center / Rocky Mount, Va.
AUG 16 - Harvester Performance Center / Rocky Mount, Va.
AUG 17 - Shenandoah Valley Music Festival / Orkney Springs, Va.
AUG 18 - Kentucky State Fair - Texas Roadhouse Main Stage / Louisville, Ky.
AUG 20 - Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
AUG 23 - Georgia Mountain Fair / Hiawassee, Ga.
AUG 29 - Midwest Old Threshers - Old Threshers Fairgrounds / Mount Pleasant, Iowa
SEP 05 - Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
SEP 06 - The Palace Theatre / Greensburg, Pa.
SEP 07 - Weinberg Center For The Arts / Frederick, Md.
SEP 08 - Wayne County Fair / Wooster, Ohio
SEP 12 - Prairie Band Casino & Resort - Great Lakes Ballroom / Mayetta, Kan.
SEP 13 - Grand Casino & Hotel Events Center / Shawnee, Okla.
SEP 14 - Waco Hippodrome Theatre / Waco, Texas
SEP 15 - Kansas State Fair / Hutchinson, Kan.
SEP 20 - Country Tonite Theater / Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
SEP 21 - Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 01 - Beth White Fundraiser - Cowboy Dance Hall / Saratoga, Wyo.
OCT 05 - Mississippi Coliseum / Jackson, Miss.
OCT 06 - Pensacola Saenger Theatre / Pensacola, Fla.
OCT 18 - Turfway Park / Florence, Ky.
OCT 19 - Walker's Bluff Casino / Carterville, Ill.
OCT 25 - Greenville Municipal Auditorium / Greenville, Texas
OCT 26 - Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
NOV 13 - Medina Entertainment Center / Medina, Minn.
NOV 14 - Prairies Edge Casino Resort / Granite Falls, Minn.
NOV 16 - Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel / Tama, Iowa
NOV 21 - Performing Arts Center - Kent State Tuscarawas / New Philadelphia, Ohio
NOV 22 - Macomb Center for the Performing Arts / Clinton Township, Mich.
NOV 23 - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort / Mount Pleasant, Mich.