The US music scene is mourning the loss of country and gospel legend Joe Bonsall. The singer died at the age of 76 after years of illness.
The American country and gospel icon Joe Bonsall has died. Bonsall died on July 9th from the effects of his ALS disease in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 76 years old. Bonsall leaves behind his wife Mary Ann, two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
As US media also report, Bonsall had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable and degenerative disease of the motor nervous system, for around four years. In January 2024, Joe Bonsall announced that he would have to cancel his band’s planned farewell tour due to his health condition. He was replaced by Ben James, but was still considered an official member of the band. In addition to his career as a musician, Bonsall was also an author and wrote a total of eleven books, including his memoir “I See Myself”, which will be published in November.
Joe Bonsall sang at the state funeral of George HW Bush
The Oak Ridge Boys, a singing quartet that has been successful for decades, were founded in the 1940s and initially sang exclusively gospel music. With the arrival of Joe Bonsall in 1973, the group increasingly opened up to the country and pop genres. In December 2018, Philadelphia-born Bonsall and his band also performed at the state funeral for former US President George HW Bush (1924-2018).
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
