Richard Sterban cause of death: Legendary bass singer who sang with Elvis Presley before joining The Oak Ridge Boys, has died at 83

Richard Sterban, the acclaimed bass singer for the vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, whose voice was behind the 1981 hit cover of "Elvira", has died. Sterban was 83 years old. His family and band announced the death, saying that Sterban died on Saturday (Nov. 14) in Hendersonville, Tennessee, due to complications arising from bronchitis and pneumonia after "a long, hard battle with cancer."

Sterban's family issues statement

"We appreciate all of your love, support, and prayers," Sterban’s family said in a statement. "Please continue to lift us up in this difficult time, we find comfort knowing that he is currently face to face with Jesus."


In May last year, Sterban had stepped away from touring with The Oak Ridge Boys over health reasons, but reunited with the group in January to sing “Elvira” at the Grand Ole Opry.

Sterban backed Presley before joining Oak Ridge

Richard Anthony Sterban was born on April 24, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey, and started singing at the age of 6 in Sunday school and glee club before co-founding the gospel quartet Keystones, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

As part of JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, Sterban backed the singer Elvis Presley while on tour, which was documented in the 1972 concert film "Elvis on Tour".

In 1972, Sterban moved away from Presley's tour to join The Oak Ridge Boys, along with lead singer Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden, and tenor Joe Bonsall. "I wanted to be in the best vocal group in the world," Sterban had once said, according to Deadline.

The Oak Ridge Boys' journey

The Oak Ridge Boys, founded in 1943 as the Oak Ridge Quartet, changed its name in the 1960s as it switched from its original bluegrass sound to gospel and eventually country music. The band has sold above of 41 million records, won five Grammys, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

During their 1981 cover of Dallas Frazier’s "Elvira", Sterban’s bass vocals were used for the “oom poppa mow mow” riff, a track that sold more than 2 million copies and was named Single of the Year by both the CMA and the Academy of Country Music. It also won the Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Richard Sterban is survived by his wife, Donna, two daughters, three sons, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.