When you really love what you do and have succeeded beyond your wildest dreams, you don't want to stop. You keep on going, despite age, changes in your life circumstances, and so forth. That seems to be true for the Oak Ridge Boys. For them and their fans, there is happy news on the retirement front. Although they said two years ago that they intended to retire from touring, the band has had second thoughts. Per Taste Of Country, "...Oaks singer Duane Allen says the band has no plans to call it quits anytime soon."
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The Oak Ridge Boys Are Still Doing Plenty Of Touring
They had concert dates through the end of last year. But in mid-January of 2025, they added a slew more for this year. These guys just are not slowing down, never mind quitting! Per the outlet, "[A]ccording to Allen, the sky's the limit after that."
They Didn't Want To Head Into The Sunset Yet
Allen told the outlet that he was approached by three members of the band - Richard Sterban, Ben James, and William Lee Golden - near the end of 2024. The Oaks were almost at the conclusion of their scheduled tour dates. The guys were all of one mind, evidently, when it came to the subject of quitting. Allen shared, "They said we've all talked, and we want to keep working. We're not through singing yet."
The Band Members Experienced So Much Tragedy In Their Lives Lately
Maybe the decision to keep the band going was connected to the upheaval and turmoil in their lives recently. Singing together may have brought them a sense of continuity and comfort amidst the painful losses they suffered.
Allen's wife of over half a century passed away during the same weekend when Sterban's father-in-law died. Also, Golden lost his son in July of last year. Just eight days later, former band member Joe Bonsall died of ALS.
That was not all. "...Allen says the group lost 16 people who were either family members, close friends, or part of their team around that same time."
Allen concluded, "That four months was a very difficult time for the Oak Ridge Boys. But we just kept believing and kept praying, and God has opened up some doors for us."
They Show No Indications Of Stopping
Allen explained, "Right now, I don't have any end date in sight. I just started my 60th year with the Oak Ridge Boys, and I have no one to come home to. Singing and the fans on the road, they're all my family now. And this group of guys I work with, we all love each other, and we love what we do. So I don't know when the end date will be."
He said, "The fact that God has blessed us for so many years ... when He gets His mind made up that we've done enough, He will tell us, 'It is enough. Go on home,' We'll keep singing as long as God keeps blessing our career."
