Richard Sterban, the longtime bass vocalist for Grammy-winning country group the Oak Ridge Boys, has died at 83.
Sterban passed away Saturday at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, after complications from bronchitis and pneumonia. He had also been battling cancer for an extended period, according to a statement from his family and the band’s representative.
“We appreciate all of your love, support, and prayers. Please continue to lift us up in this difficult time. We find comfort knowing that he is currently face to face with Jesus,” his family said.
Health problems forced Sterban to stop touring with the quartet in 2025. He returned to the stage in January 2026, joining the Oak Ridge Boys at the Grand Ole Opry for a performance of their 1981 signature hit, “Elvira.”
Born in 1943 in Camden, New Jersey, Sterban grew up in neighboring Collingswood. He began singing in Sunday school at age 6 as a soprano, but his voice later fell into the deep bass range that would define his career.
After graduating from Collingswood High School, Sterban studied music at Trenton State College, now called the College of New Jersey.
He relocated to Nashville in 1970 and began working as a backup singer for Elvis Presley.
Two years later, Sterban left Presley’s backing band to join the Oak Ridge Boys, performing alongside lead vocalist Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden and tenor Joe Bonsall.
His instantly recognizable “oom poppa mow mow” bass vocal became a defining feature of “Elvira.”
“Elvira” topped the country chart and climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, helping introduce the Oak Ridge Boys to a wider mainstream audience. Their other major hits included “Bobbie Sue” and “American Made.”
During their career, the group placed 34 singles in the country Top 10, including 17 No. 1 hits, and earned five Grammy Awards.
The Oak Ridge Boys also performed for several presidents, toured with Johnny Cash and contributed backing vocals to Paul Simon’s “Slip Slidin’ Away.”
The quartet was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young described Sterban as an important presence in country music.
“He used his unmistakable bass voice to connect commercial country music to its deep gospel roots,” Young said, describing Sterban as “a steady force and a foundational figure in country music.”
“He will go down in history as one of the greatest bass singers of all time,” Grand Ole Opry member T. Graham Brown said in a tribute.
Sterban had lived in Hendersonville for more than five decades. In October 2025, the city honored the Oak Ridge Boys by dedicating a bridge over Drakes Creek on Johnny Cash Parkway in the group’s name.
“There is no greater honor than to be honored by your hometown,” Sterban said during the dedication.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters Lauren and Tori; sons Rich, Doug and Chris; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.