The Oak Ridge Boys bringing ‘Celebrating Route 66’ tour to Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — For more than 50 years, The Oak Ridge Boys have brought their signature four-part harmonies to stages across the country. This weekend, the legendary country vocal group is bringing that sound to Wilmington.

The Oak Ridge Boys will perform Friday at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center as part of their “Celebrating Route 66” tour.

“We’re excited to be singing everyday we get an opportunity to at this point, it’s what we chose to do in life and go where the music would take us,” singer William Lee Golden said.

Golden, 87, has been a baritone singer with The Oak Ridge Boys for more than 60 years. His journey as a performer began long before he joined the group.

“My mother taught me how to play guitar and sing harmonies when I was six and seven years old,” Golden said.

Golden joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1965. He spoke with WWAY from his home in Tennessee after the group returned from performing in the Midwest.

The Grammy Award-winning group is known for country hits including “Bobbie Sue,” “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” and “Come On Home.”

Golden performs alongside Duane Allen, Richard Sterban and Ben James, who replaced the late Joe Bonsall in 2023.

“The past few years we’ve lost a couple of our members and we got two young guys that are singing with us who have two of the finest voices that I’ve ever heard,” Golden said.

Despite being 87, Golden said he would rather continue performing than spend his time at home.

“I’d be lost without it, someone asked Keith Richards the other day and said ‘When is the Rolling Stones going to retire?’ He said, ‘Retire? That would be like a death sentence.’”

Beyond his voice, Golden has become recognizable for his long hair and beard. He said the trademark look began decades ago after he lost his razor.

“It looks about three years to get it out this length, I remember the first year I lost my razor I would walk in a room and look into a mirror and startle myself,” Golden said.

As The Oak Ridge Boys prepare to take the stage in the Port City, Golden said music and the group’s love of harmony continue to keep them going.

“Music has taken us to places that we wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to go and it’s what keeps us together, the love of music and harmonies,” Golden said.

The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at the Wilson Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m.