Comments on: Oaks on SN chart … Lucifer reports freak freezing conditions

By: David Coles

David Coles — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:38:07 +0000

My wife and I unsed to enjoy a goup of native american singers that went by the neme of Claudt Family Singers–they performed in churches around tjhe United States, Can you give me any information on this great group? They were active in the 1960’s & 1970’s. Would really appreciate some info on the group. Thanks much!!!!

By: huston

huston — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:53:37 +0000

what can i say man i was on a roll . < i didn’t see you disagree

By: niven

niven — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:11:30 +0000

…nor did you have to use any periods to make your point.

By: houston

houston — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:38:23 +0000

Hello
i have been reading with intrest what all has been said i think the insider and buisness stuff you all have been batting about is usless info everyone know the orb started out as a county act and went gospel and then back to country so for anyone to act like they don,t belong is crazy they were acepted the first time they came to gospel and they should be now or everyone in gospel is a bunch of fakers and liers and by the way most real good artest to come out in the 50 60 70 had a gospel back ground from the stadlers to sam cook whitney Houston and johnny cash and as fars as bill gaither goes i just saw a production of his that had nothing to do with gospel it was on RFD it was a country home coming that was packed with lieing cheating drinking songs so i guess BG has gone country also. and oh look i didn’t even have to quote the bible to make my point

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:09:20 +0000

I’m floored with how petty many Christians can be. I am floored by an earlier posting in reference to the fact that we are to judge people with their little scripture quotes. I think if that guy would have been around when The woman in the bible was about to be stoned, I think that guy would have gone ahead and thrown it!!! I think some of us had better wake up!! For us to really have the authority to judge others means that we have equality with God, we are without blemish, And that we have FULL understanding of God’s will. Let me say I know without a doubt that there is noone out there, including those bashing the oaks and myself who have achieved this!! I’m reminded about a friend whom I tried to witness to who was a homosexual. He talked about how he had been ridiculed his whole life by Christians. I will never forget when he said “If that is your God, I don’t want any part of Him”. My point here is that I nor any of you know the ORB as they are today. The only person that knows their heart is God!! If they truly wish to come back to SGM, who are any of us to refuse that. I go back to my friend and recognize that today’s church has forgotten about GRACE!! It is ironic to me that Grace has been extended to all of us by a loving merciful God, but we cannot pass it on to the lost or hurting. Most Christians stand ready to beat them down and drive them further away from Christ. Remember this!! we have the ability to encourage or criticize, to win souls or drive them further away, to love others the way Christ loved the church or to hate. I think a big irony is a song on one of the ORB’s biggest albums “Bobbie Sue”. The last song was “Would They Love Him Down In Shreveport Today?” In the song, it talks about how would you receive Christ in today’s world if he was seen talking to “junkees, whores, and thieves”. If we can’t celebrate a singing group like the ORBs coming back to the fold after many years and forget about things that happened 20 or 30 years ago. How can we ever expect to be the witnesses that God has called us to be???

By: Bobbie

Bobbie — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:08:50 +0000

Gee, why bring up sins that are in the past? I believe the Boys have turned over a new leaf (if all the above is true) and seek to be what God wants them to be. If a person sins; then repents - we should be so glad rather than bringing up the past.

Maybe some are so perfect they don’t have anything to hide; but I doubt it.

By: OrbFan

OrbFan — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:17:04 +0000

I am an Orb fan & friend of theirs. If they made mistakes 30 years ago and asked God for forgiveness its under the blood and thats good enough for me. But if they cheated on their wives it is wrong whether I like them or not. Don’t let the fact that we like them overlook right and wrong. No one should get a pass. I think the Orb would agree it was wrong if it happened. Telling someone wrong is wrong is not non-Christian. Its very Christ-like.

By: AcesGirl

AcesGirl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:13:11 +0000

I can’t believe I’m reading what I’ve been reading in some of these posts here on these comments. How can some of you even call yourselves Christians? Go read your bibles. Maybe some of you will learn something by doing that.

By: A. Nonemus

A. Nonemus — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:16:28 +0000

RE: #25,
So what if Richard Sterban collects wines?

I’m a gospel music singer, and guess what? I’M A WINE DRINKER!!!! My doctor actually said it would be beneficial to my health if I had a GLASS of red wine each evening.

Guess me and Sterban are both going to hell now.

By: CG

CG — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:23:22 +0000

The Oaks took Gospel music where it had never been before, and places that had never heard it before. They were the first group to have a drummer and full band. Yes, they grew their hair out, wore flashy clothes, had a high energy show (still do) but they were cool, and through their look and music, turned me on to the message. They took a lot of heat back in the 70’s when they opened for Johnny Cash in Las Vegas…..”how could they play Sin City?”…. What those narrow minded folks didn’t know, was that they were singing GOSPEL songs to audiences that had NEVER heard it. To this day, they still pay tribute to their roots at every show whether it be a State Fair, Performing Arts Center, or Casino. Yes, they sing Gospel for the gamblers, smokers, and drinkers the same as they do for the ”Holy”. Much like what JD said, I have heard William Lee Golden say ” We are entertainers, not evangelists”. Maybe the reason some of those groups didn’t want them to be on the same show was that they had too hard a time following them. They still remain a tough act to follow.

By: Grave Digger

Grave Digger — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:03:30 +0000

Ben, I’m sorry if you thought my comment about the Statesmen and Blackwoods was out of bounds and without merit. However, we must agree to disagree on this matter.

Surely you haven’t forgotten the way Jake Hess and the Imperials was received by the world of gospel music. Who do you suppose let the promoters know that they wouldn’t be appearing with the newly formed Imperials?

Who hired Don Butler when the Sons of Song were at the pinnacle of their career?

Of the groups you mentioned singing on stage with the Statesmen/Blackwood team, only two of them (Klaudts and Chucks) were not Skylite recording artists. I’m sure you know that at this time, the Statesmen and Blackwoods owned Skyite records.

Let me say very respecfully that I don’t believe I’m the one who is re-writing history.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:25:17 +0000

I have been a long time ORB fan. There’s Gonna be a Great Great Day, written by Bill Anderson was a favorite on mine in the late 60’s. I was 9 years old at the time so that should tell you an appeal to younger people helps to build and sustain an industry. Foes of CCM should keep in mind that in the 60’s our music was very reflective of Pop and Modern Country of that era. The Goodman’s band in the 70’s was just as country as Conway Twitty’s band and just as good. When you hear current artist such as Austin’s Bridge and they reflect Rascal Flatts, Diamond Rio etc… let’s not be the first to criticize. They are only blending CCM and Southern in a package that may appeal to someone that may help sustain our audience for a few more years.

By: Mike McIlwain

Mike McIlwain — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:01:20 +0000

I agree with Ben that the Oaks harmony and blend during 70s with Willie was a great quartet. I didn’t really become a fan of Joe Bonsall until the mid 80s with their song “Little Things.” Joe is one of the few tenors who has gotten better with age. He has a great personality and I really like him now, but I always thought the group’s blend with Willie was smoother and tighter. My favorite line-up is Willie, Duane, Bill, and Noel. On the “Light” album Noel uses his upper register very well on “It Won’t Be Long” and “Through It All.”

By: Ben Harris

Ben Harris — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:47:36 +0000

I really think the comment of Blackwood and Lister is out of bounds and without merit. The Blackwood/Statesmen tag team approach was for their own sponsored concerts and had precious little effect on other promoters sponsoring their own events. I have worked concerts where the Blackwoods, Statesmen, Imperials, Speers, Kingsmen, Claudt Indian Family, Chucks, and yes even the Oaks, were on the same program. It was a very common event in the 60’s and 70’s. To re-write history does no one any good. I do agree the Oaks in the 70’s, especially with Willie Wynn, were a great quartet. I suggest that the fans of the Oaks, (which includes me by the way) go back and listen to that groups harmony and blend compared to recent recordings.

By: Chuck Peters

Chuck Peters — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:40:25 +0000

The Oak Ridge Boys are professionals… and when they make a SG record.. SG radio should be playing it. I am not crazy about the song.. but this single is better and more “radio appropriate” than most of the stuff on many SG stations now. Quit playing JUNK.

by the way.. you can preview the ORBs single, in its entirety.. here: http://www.southerngospelreporter.com