{
  "id": 20093159,
  "title": "Richard Sterban, the Bass Singer for the Oak Ridge Boys, Dies at 83",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/richard-sterban-the-bass-singer-for-the-oak-ridge-boys-dies-at-83",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-15T01:13:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NYT Arts",
    "slug": "nyt-arts",
    "url": "https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/14/obituaries/richard-sterban-dead.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Richard Sterban, the bass vocalist for the Oak Ridge Boys, died on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 83 years old. Both his family and the band announced his death, noting that he passed away due to complications from bronchitis and pneumonia following a battle with cancer. Deadline described the singer as a Country Music Hall of Famer whose vocals were featured on the group's 1981 cover of “Elvira.”\n\nNYT Arts noted that Sterban was a backup vocalist for Elvis Presley and possessed an extraordinary range and power, capable of hitting notes so low they could only be felt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "Richard Sterban Dies: Oak Ridge Boys Bass Singer Behind “Elvira” Riff Was 83",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/richard-sterban-dies-oak-ridge-boys-bass-singer-behind-elvira-riff",
        "published": "2026-11-14T23:00:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Richard Sterban, Oak Ridge Boys’ Bass Singer, Dies at 83",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/richard-sterban-oak-ridge-boys-bass-singer-dies-at-83",
        "published": "2026-11-15T00:39:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban, Whose Distinctive Bass Voice Powered ‘Elvira’ and Other Country Smashes, Dies at 83",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/oak-ridge-boys-richard-sterban-whose-distinctive-bass-voice-powered",
        "published": "2026-11-15T01:05:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}