Richard Sterban, member of the celebrated country and gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys, dies at 83

Richard Sterban, the bass vocalist of the Grammy-award winning gospel quartet The Oak Ridge Boys and a country music hall of famer, died Saturday, his family and the band said in a statement. He was 83. Sterban, who had been with the band since 1972, died in Hendersonville, Tennessee, due to complications from bronchitis and pneumonia after a long battle with cancer, they said. Sterban left his job as a backup singer for Elvis Presley to join the vocal group, which perhaps became best known for its rendition of “Elvira.” Sterban toured regularly with the group until 2025, when his health deteriorated. The Oak Ridge Boys won five Grammy awards and were nominated 23 times. They performed for presidents, on American Bandstand, at the Grammy Awards ceremony and at the Grand Ole Opry.

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