News & Scoops

Oak Ridge Boys to Receive SGMG President’s Honor

Nashville, TN – Today, Judy Nelon, Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG) President and on behalf of the SGMG Executive Board, announced The Oak Ridge Boys as the 2010 recipients of the SGMG President's Honor during the SGMG Harmony Honors at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on April 19, 2010. All four members of The Oak Ridge Boys - Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban – will be in attendance to accept this honor.

“I fondly recall having the opportunity of presenting a Gospel Music Award to the Oak Ridge Boys in Los Angeles, California in 1973. It just happened to have been Joe Bonsall’s first week with the group. Now, thirty-seven years later, it is such a privilege to present the prestigious SGMG President's Honor to this same amazing group, consisting of Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall in recognition of their long successful career and significant contributions to the field of southern gospel music,” says Nelon.

The Oak Ridge Boys continue to make new music and entertain millions of fans. With numerous Gold and Platinum albums, they have also enjoyed more than a dozen Number One singles and over 30 Top Ten hits with over 30 million records sold throughout their illustrious 40 year career. With talents that have long been recognized by their peers, this Grammy Award winning group has also received eight Dove Awards, four ACM Awards, four CMA Awards and are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2009, the Oak Ridge Boys released their acclaimed new album, The Boys Are Back on SpringHill Records and they continue to perform (with a full touring schedule) live nationwide throughout the year.

Founding member, Duane Allen commented on this great honor, "I have always felt that it was a huge honor to be recognized by your hometown or from one's roots. Gospel music is the foundation of The Oak Ridge Boys' music, Southern style quartet music. I would like to thank all of the former members of The Oak Ridge Boys' organization for laying the groundwork for all of us, and to offer my deepest gratitude to the SGMG for this wonderful honor."

The SGMG Harmony Honors Celebration Concert showcases artists with outstanding accomplishments and award nominations over the past year including Grammy, Dove and Singing News Awards, as well as radio airplay and touring success. The top ten songs of the genre are also recognized. The event will include performances by The Oak Ridge Boys, Jason Crabb, Guy Penrod, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Karen Peck & New River, Bowling Family, Gold City, Perrys, Blackwood Brothers, Tribute Quartet and more.

The SGMG Harmony Honors Celebration Concert will be held on Monday, April 19th at 7:00 pm (CST) in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The SGMG Celebration Concert is free and open to the public.