In Harmony: My adventure with the Oak Ridge Boys
(MCN Editor's Note: Dee Allen, the 22-year-old son of Oak Ridge Boy Duane
Allen, has listened to the ORB's music all his life. This came in handy when
he was called to be a last-minute replacement for the group. Steve Sanders,
baritone singer, had left suddenly.
Dee shares with us the emotions and events of the fast-paced weekend. He
is now back at home, studying at Middle Tennessee State University, where
he will receive his degree in the summer.
Duane Allen's son-in-law, Paul Martin, formerly of Exile, will help out during
some Las Vegas dates.
A permanent replacement for the Oaks will be named soon.)
"Are you ready to save the day?"
That was how my mom, Norah Lee, started the conversation that would make my weekend (November 4) considerably more memorable than I had expected. I was just starting my shift at a restaurant near Nashville when she called, letting me know that my dad's group, the Oak Ridge Boys, needed my help.
Apparently, Steve Sanders (baritone) had had to fly home in the middle of a road trip to attend to family matters. That left the Oaks with two choices: turn around and come home, canceling five shows, or find a fill-in... quick.
When my father, Duane, had called home with the news, my mom had suggested they get me to fill in, as I was familiar with most of the material and had played on stage with the group before.
When she reached me at my part-time job, she said I had about an hour to get to the airport and would arrive in Dallas an hour before showtime. I sped home, grabbed some clothes which she had packed for me, and went to catch the plane. I was met at Dallas/Fort Worth International by Timmer Ground (ORB concessions manager and former middleweight kick-boxing champion). He told me that nobody knew exactly what had happened with Steve just a few hours earlier. They were too concerned about pulling off that night's show to worry about it.
When we got to the venue, Joe, Richard, and my dad were discussing the set list. They were considering dropping all the songs in which Steve sang lead to make it easier for me. I told Joe I knew them all, so he said, "Tonight's show will be short anyway. Let's do Gonna Take a Lot of River and then we can add some more tomorrow in Branson if we need to."
That left time to change clothes, have about one minute of rehearsal, and send up a group prayer before the show started.
Even before I sang a note, I felt comfortable and confident, as every band and crew member near the stage shook my hand and sincerely thanked me. My thought was, "You might want to save those thanks until after the show!"
They wanted me to know, however, that regardless of whether I screwed up or pulled it off, they supported me and appreciated the effort.
I must say, the show itself went by very quickly. I remember getting lost a couple of times, but doing a passable job. People often wonder how it feels to be up there, singing with a group of that stature, but the truth is, aside from the sheer enjoyment of making music, I was concentrating too hard to feel much of anything. One minute you're trying to sing the right part or remember the guitar chords, and the next minute you're waving goodnight.
I did, occasionally, stop and soak in the feeling, and it can be overwhelming. During I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, for instance, I got chills realizing that I was singing a song that I had probably listened to a thousand times, with the very group that recorded it! People in the audience were being swept away by the beauty of a sound that I was helping create. That's such a powerful realization that the only appropriate reaction is to smile. Now you know why the Oaks always look so happy onstage!
One thing I learned right away was that the power harmony the Oaks are famous for is much more intricate than it may sound. Often, Joe's tenor part will not move parallel with the lead... it may stay in one place for, say, the second half of a chorus. That means the baritone part will jump above or below the lead for a couple of lines, or even words, and then jump back to its regular spot. I didn't know this until I found myself inadvertently singing Joe's part a few times. Usually, my dad and I would catch it at the same time, and then he would go over it with me after the show. By the third show, most of the kinks were ironed out.
Playing shows in Branson, MO is interesting. They last nearly three hours (a regular set is 80 minutes). You do the main set, there's a break to sign autographs, and then there's a loose set including gospel, requests, and whatever else we can think of. By this time, I was doing four leads in the show, which were being received well anough that I asked Joe if he minded me trying something during the second set. He said, "Sure." That day, after the band's instrumental number Honky Tonk, we did the Eagles' Best Of My Love. This is one of my favorite songs, and I knew it well enough to be carried away by the emotion in the words. I must tell you, it is incredible to be standing in front of a big crowd with the support of one the best bands in the world, singing a song that you love. I nearly cried like an idiot.
One surreal moment was singing No Matter How High. First line of the song: When I was a young boy, I would dream about life, and wonder just how sweet it would be.
The Oaks have, in all honesty, the best crew and band on the road. I never felt stressed or nervous, because I knew I was dealing with guys who get the job done right. Every potential worry, from hotel reservations, to breaking a guitar string, to getting there on time, to having something to eat on the bus afterwards, is taken care of. All the boys have to worry about is going out on stage and having fun. And with such a great group of guys surrounding them, that's never a problem. The fans were equally supportive, saying they hoped I'd stick around awhile.
The best compliment I got all weekend was when Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers came to see the show and told me I was doing a great job. Wow!
With such an atmosphere of love, camaraderie, and support, one can see why the Oaks have been doing this as long as they have. Making me feel a part of the family is a compliment I'll never forget. They've created a home away from home that I hope I'll continue to get to visit often. I know that won't be a problem, because as Joe Bonsall says on stage every night, The Oaks will be rolling for a long time to come.
