“Top” Ten Music Losses of 2024: Joe Bonsall (#3)

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No surprises for the top three. Of course, I already told you who’s #1 (told you that back in September), but officially we’ll look back at these three greats. Here’s today’s major loss in the world of music from 2024. #3: Joe Bonsall I’m telling you, the Oak Ridge Boys were slammed last year with heartache. Duane Allen’s wife passed in March, the William Lee Golden’s son died in July, nine days before tenor singer Joe Bonsall. Joe Bonsall hailed from that country music hotbed of Philadelphia. That’s okay. The music was great country and gospel. Occasionally it needs to be reiterated that a group by the name “Oak Ridge Boys” since the 1940s. They were solely southern gospel until the current incarnation decided to do a country album in the 70s. Big success. The Oak Ridge Boys had massive success in country and pop throughout the years. And, of course, they were mainstays at our state fair, where I saw them 15 times. Bonsall had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and was forced off the road in late 2023. Complications from the disease silenced his gorgeous voice in July. Oh, did that one hurt. Joe Bonsall Born Joseph Slone Bonsall, Jr., May 18, 1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died July 9, 2024, Hendersonville, Tennessee (ALS) (Age 76) HALLS OF FAME: Country Music, Southern Gospel (with the Oak Ridge Boys) Joe sang lead on “Elvira,” but everyone’s probably sick of that. Here he is with Duane Allen on “Fancy Free”: