OAK RIDGE BOYS PERFORM: GROUP DOES WHAT THEY WANT AT SEMO FAIR (MUSIC REVIEW)

When the current members one by one became members of the gospel quartet the Oak Ridge Boys in the 1960s and 1970s, they all wore the same suits and sang four-part harmonies that made people cry out for Jesus. Today, each of the Oak Ridge Boys wears exactly what he wants and they sing country love songs and rock 'n' roll rave ups as well the traditional gospel music that got them started.

In the world of music, no other group is quite like the Oak Ridge Boys.

The grandstand at the SEMO District Fair was about four-fifths full Thursday night for the Oak Ridge Boys' one and one-half hour concert. The Oaks will be followed to the fair by a Toby Keith concert tonight and by Don Williams Saturday night.

On a windy, full-moon night, the Oaks' resident iconoclast, William Lee Golden, at times resembled a cross between Moses and John Brown as he shook his long white hair and beard. Baritone lead singer Duane Allen was suave in a gray suit and silk shirt. Tenor Joe Bonsall danced about the stage and goofed with ace guitarist Don Carr. And bass Richard Sterban, the Barry White of country music, put the "Oom bopa, oom bopa, oom bopa mau mau" in their hit of hits, "Elvira."

Among the high points of the concert were the a cappella gospel tune "I Love to Tell the Story" and Golden's soulful readings of various tunes.

The Oaks were backed by a crack band that also included Golden's son, Chris, on drums.

In an interview prior to their performance, baritone Duane Allen said the group earned its independence.

"When you get hits you can wear what you want," he said. "Just now, we are ourselves."

Many people know the Oaks as a gospel group. Others of their fans think of them as country performers. And some even want to claim them as rock 'n' rollers, Allen says. Who could argue that the rollicking "Bobbie Sue" is anything but heart-thumping rock 'n' roll?

"We are not a laid back group," Allen said. "We want to jump into people's arms."

But their career is coming full circle. The gospel record the Oaks are preparing to cut will be their first in 27 years. Next month they will be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

The Oaks do what they want and their audience loves them for it.

"It comes with being around as long as we have," Allen said. "It's a respect thing. They know who we are."