Oak Ridge Boys 低音主唱 Richard Sterban 逝世，享年83岁
橡树岭男孩（The Oak Ridge Boys）低音主唱 Richard Sterban 11月14日在田纳西州 Hendersonville 逝世，享年83岁。乐队与 Sterban 家人当天公布了死讯：他因支气管炎与肺炎并发症离世，生前长期与癌症抗争。
乐队在声明中称 Sterban 是「我们的伙伴和兄弟」。他的家人说：「我们感谢大家的爱、支持与祈祷。请继续为我们祈祷，我们深感安慰，因为知道他此刻已与耶稣面对面。」乡村音乐协会（CMA）首席执行官 Sarah Trahern 表示，Sterban 的低音不仅定义了这个四重唱的声音，也为每一次演出带来温度、灵魂与个性；CMA 当晚也在社交平台发文悼念。
Sterban 1943年4月24日生于新泽西州 Camden，在附近的 Collingswood 长大，6岁起在主日学唱歌。他早年曾为 Elvis Presley 伴唱，1972年加入橡树岭男孩，此后与主唱 Duane Allen、男中音 William Lee Golden 和男高音 Joe Bonsall 一起，把这个南方福音四重唱带进乡村与流行音乐的主流。他在1981年冠军单曲《Elvira》中那段以「oom-papa-mow-mow」著称的低音吟唱，成为美国音乐中最广为人知的声音之一。组合共有34首单曲打入乡村榜前十、其中17首夺冠，获得过格莱美奖、乡村音乐协会奖与乡村音乐学院奖，是 Grand Ole Opry 成员，并入选福音音乐名人堂与乡村音乐名人堂。
Sterban 2025年3月确诊胰腺癌，同年9月公开病情并退出巡演；2026年1月底，他一度重返 Grand Ole Opry 舞台，与乐队合唱《Elvira》，全场起立致意。他在 Hendersonville 生活了50多年，2025年10月，该市把 Drakes Creek 上的一座桥命名为「橡树岭男孩大桥」，他当时说：「没有比被家乡致敬更大的荣誉了。」
他身后留下妻子 Donna、女儿 Lauren 与 Tori、儿子 Rich、Doug 与 Chris，以及多名孙辈与曾孙辈。葬礼安排将在日后公布。
Richard Sterban, Bass Voice of the Oak Ridge Boys, Dies at 83
Richard Sterban, the bass voice of the Oak Ridge Boys, died on November 14 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 83. The group and Sterban's family announced his death the same day: he died of complications from bronchitis and pneumonia after a long, hard battle with cancer.
The Oak Ridge Boys called Sterban "our partner and brother" in their statement. His family said: "We appreciate all of your love, support, and prayers. Please continue to lift us up in this difficult time; we find comfort knowing that he is currently face to face with Jesus." Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association (CMA), said Sterban's bass not only defined the quartet's sound but also brought warmth, soul and character to every performance, and the CMA also posted a tribute on Saturday evening.
Sterban was born on April 24, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Collingswood, singing in Sunday school from the age of six. He sang behind Elvis Presley before joining the Oak Ridge Boys in 1972, and alongside lead singer Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden and tenor Joe Bonsall he helped carry the Southern gospel quartet into the heart of country and pop music. His bass run on the group's 1981 No. 1 single "Elvira," famous for its "oom-papa-mow-mow" refrain, became one of the most familiar sounds in American music. The group placed 34 singles in the country Top 10, 17 of them at No. 1, earned Grammy, CMA and Academy of Country Music awards, became members of the Grand Ole Opry, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sterban was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2025, made the diagnosis public that September and stepped back from touring. In late January 2026 he rejoined the group on the Grand Ole Opry stage to sing "Elvira," and the audience rose to its feet. He called Hendersonville home for more than 50 years; in October 2025 the city dedicated the Oak Ridge Boys Bridge over Drakes Creek, and Sterban said at the time: "There is no greater honor than to be honored by your hometown."
He is survived by his wife, Donna; his daughters, Lauren and Tori; his sons, Rich, Doug and Chris; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
来源：Oak Ridge Boys 乐队与 Sterban 家人
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：Richard Sterban（2019年）。Banditz71 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons，本图已预裁为 16:9。 / Photo: Richard Sterban in 2019. By Banditz71, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; pre-cropped to 16:9.
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