The singer announced his retirement from the road earlier this year due to his ongoing battle with ALS
Joe Bonsaill, The longtime tenor singer for the famed country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys died Tuesday, July 9, of complications from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). It was 76.
The Oak Ridge Boys was announced Bonsall's death in a statement on their website: “As a 50-year member of the American music group Oak Ridge Boys, Joe was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.”
The statement also noted that Bonsai was a prolific writer, penning 11 books, including his recent memoir, I see myself, which was released last year. He also noted that, at Bonsall's request, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the ALS Association or the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
“Joe loved to sing. He loved to read,” the statement continued. “He loved to write. He loved playing the 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.”
Bonsall spent just over 50 years in the Oak Ridge Boys: He joined the group in 1973 and announced his retirement from touring earlier that year due to an ALS diagnosis. At the time Bonsall announced he would be retiring from the road, it was reported that the Oak Ridge Boys were planning to return to the studio in late January to record another album with producer Dave Cobb.
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