Recently our very own Brandon Wallin had the chance to do a quick interview with Mr. Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys. Check all of it out below, and enjoy!
Joe, first of all thanks for taking the time to speak with us here at MinnesotaCountry.com. It’s certainly an honor, and not only do we appreciate your time, we can’t wait to attend your free show during The Great Midwest Rib Fest at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel on Saturday July 26!
Recently you celebrated selling more than 41 million albums! Congratulations, as that number is amazing!
How does it feel to think back to when it all began, and to see the success you’ve reached today?
“It is amazing that you would ask that question Brandon as I have been writing a new book called On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys that will release in the spring of 2015 so I have actually doing a lot of reflecting of late as you might imagine. I think we are all very humbled by the legendary career that we have put together. We all had big dreams as very young men and history proves that we have outlived each dream and have watched them all come true and so again we are very thankful. We have worked hard, stayed true and God has blessed us beyond our deserving. We are feeling good and still singing pretty darn good as well and that is a blessing!”
What made you all decide after all these years to put together “Boys Night Out” the great live album that you released this past April?
It sure turned out great! With such a great live show, it was exciting when we first heard the news!
“Boys Night Out was all Duane Allen’s idea. He thought that while we were still performing at a high level that we should start recording live shows so we did just that and long before Cleopatra Records became involved. When our longtime manager Jim Halsey talked to them and told them what we are doing their response was WOW we would love to release this project world-wide and so it all came to pass. We actually have enough songs in the can to someday release a box set like Boys Night Out. I think we recorded 60 songs.”
In all of your years touring, and many shows here in Minnesota we have to ask…is there any certain thing you can’t wait to see or do if you have the time while you’re in Minnesota?
“There is never time to really go sightseeing anywhere unless there is a day off in the mix. A showday is usually wrapped up in doing all we have to do to get a show going. However, I will admit that we have always loved playing in Minnesota and we have a long wonderful history in this land of 10,000 Lakes. I think people here have loved our group for a long time and it is always a special honor to come here and sing. I am stoked about the RibFest and Mystic Lake Casino has been a good friend for a long time.”
Is there anything in Minnesota you haven’t seen or done but would like to?
“I think a vacation here would be wonderful. Maybe we can come up here one day and do that. Snowmobiles? A little ice fishing? I would love it! You do winter quite well up here. WIND CHILL FACTOR man!”
With summer seeming to move so quick for may of us, those of us in Minnesota have one thing in the back of our minds that usually results in at least one vacation a year for many…we hate to say it in July, but winter.
With that said, we noticed you are part of The Country Music Cruise taking place this upcoming January. What can fans desperate to escape the nasty Minnesota winter expect if they decided to join the star studded cruise?
“We are excited to be a part of THE Country Music Cruise and I know that anyone who signs on will love it! Lots of great music, food, personal time with the artists and THE CARIBBEAN!!!!! I can already smell the sea breeze. I think the wind chill factor will be somewhere around…. 72?”
Fans interested in checking out the cruise can click here for details.
Now we have some fan questions for you if you don’t mind…
We reached out on Facebook and had our fans submit questions. We chose just a couple for you, and the fans want to know the following:
Matt G. asked: What do you guys listen to when you are not working on music?
“Good question Matt. Speaking for me I must say that my iPod and iTunes contains a pretty eclectic mix. New country, classic Country, Gospel and Bluegrass, light jazz and rock and roll and everything Emmy Lou Harris has ever recorded… no RAP though…”
Roy H. asked: Is there a song you passed on recording that you later regretted?
“In my new book Roy I have written several pages about songs we missed out on, many times because a record label exec passed on the song. I will name two such songs… THAT’s MY JOB and I’M IN A HURRY! OH… and ACHY BREAKY HEART… can you hear me sobbing?”
Well, that was great Joe! Thanks again for taking a few moments of your time to answer a few questions!
We look forward to seeing you his Saturday at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel!
Fans can attend this event free of charge, and can get all the details by clicking here.