Richard Sterban, whose deep bass anchored the Oak Ridge Boys and became instantly recognizable on their 1981 hit "Elvira," has died at 83. The singer passed away on Saturday, according to a statement released by the Oak Ridge Boys and his family, which attributed the death to complications from bronchitis and pneumonia following a cancer diagnosis.
Sterban's career extended well beyond the country chart. He performed backup vocals for Elvis Presley during concerts at Madison Square Garden and in Las Vegas, and he toured alongside Johnny Cash with the rest of the Oak Ridge Boys. Those collaborations placed him at the intersection of rock and country music during a formative era for both genres.
The Oak Ridge Boys honored Sterban's contributions with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Four years earlier, in 2011, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The group also performed for five U.S. presidents over the course of its career and sang at the funeral of President George H.W. Bush in December 2018.
For local audiences who grew up with the Oak Ridge Boys' blend of country and gospel, Sterban's voice was a defining element of the group's sound. His signature "oom poppa mow mow" on "Elvira" remains one of the most quoted lines in country music, and his passing marks the loss of a performer whose influence reached well beyond the genre's traditional boundaries.
Sterban was 83 years old at the time of his death.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
