The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Since 2024, the group consists of Duane Allen, Ben James, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban. The group was founded in 1943 as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s, and they remained a gospel group until the mid-1970s, when they changed their image and concentrated on country music.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1978.
Step On Out is the 10th country studio album from American country music quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1985. It contains the #1 singles "Touch a Hand " and "Little Things", as well as the #3 single "Come On In ". The title song was co-written by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and former Byrds bass player Chris Hillman and former Crawdaddy magazine editor Peter Knobler. "Staying Afloat" would be covered two years later by Sawyer Brown on their self-titled debut album.
Somewhere in the Night is the fourth studio album by American country music band Sawyer Brown. Its title track was a single, as were "This Missin' You Heart of Mine" and "Old Photographs". All three singles charted on the Hot Country Singles charts. The title track, which is not related to Barry Manilow's hit song, was previously recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys on their 1981 album, Fancy Free. "Lola's Love" would later be covered by Ricky Van Shelton on his album Love and Honor and released as a single in 1994.
Lovers, Friends and Strangers is the sixth solo studio album by American country music singer, Barbara Mandrell, released in May 1977. The album peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. "Hold Me", the album's only single, peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Fancy Free is the fifth country studio album by the Oak Ridge Boys, released on March 26, 1981. It featured their biggest hit "Elvira". "Somewhere in the Night" was covered by Sawyer Brown in 1987 from their album of the same name. The title of the album was suggested by longtime Oak Ridge Boys personal assistant Charles Daunis, and he is thanked for this contribution in the liner notes.
Bobbie Sue is the seventh country studio album by The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released on February 10, 1982. Its title song was a #1 country chart hit and a #12 hit on the Hot 100 singles chart.
American Made is the eighth country studio album by The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1983. It featured yet another "crossover hit" with the song "American Made", which hit #1 on the country charts and #72 on the U.S. Hot 100 singles chart.
Deliver is the ninth country studio album by The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1983. It includes two singles: "Ozark Mountain Jubilee" and "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes", the latter reaching number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.
Greatest Hits is the fifth country album by the Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1980. It compiled most of their hits from their first four albums.
Together is the fourth country studio album by The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1980. The album appeared on the Billboard 200 on March 29, 1980, staying for six weeks and reaching a peak position of #154.
The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived is the third country studio album by The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1979.
Room Service is the second country album by The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1978. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It includes the singles "Cryin' Again" and "Come On In".
"I'll Be True to You" is a song written by Alan Rhody, and recorded by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released in April 1978 as the third single from the album Y'all Come Back Saloon. The song was The Oak Ridge Boys' third single to hit the country chart and the first of seventeen number one country hits. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of eleven weeks on the country chart.
"You're the One" is a song written by Bob Morrison, and recorded by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released in December 1977 as the second single from the album Y'all Come Back Saloon. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Y'all Come Back Saloon" is a song written by Sharon Vaughn, and recorded by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released in July 1977 as the first single and title track from the album Y'all Come Back Saloon. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Monongahela is the 14th country studio album by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys, released in 1988 via MCA Records. The album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
American Dreams is a studio album by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released in 1989 via MCA Records. The album peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It includes the singles "An American Family" and "No Matter How High", the latter of which was the group's last number one hit on Hot Country Songs. "Turning for Home" later served as the title track to Mike Reid's 1991 debut album Turning for Home.
Heartbeat is the 13th country studio album by the American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys, released via MCA Records in 1987. It was the first album to feature Steve Sanders, who took William Lee Golden's place in March of that year. The album includes the singles "Time In" and "True Heart". The album reached number 20 on Top Country Albums.
Bobby Thompson was an American banjoist and guitarist. He worked as a session musician from the 1960s through 1980s. He recorded with Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Neil Young, Perry Como, among others.
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