Introduction
Harmony Across Generations: The Oak Ridge Boys Join Forces with Rockland Road
On a crisp Tennessee evening, beneath the soft glow of the Grand Ole Opry lights, two generations of harmony came together in a performance that reminded everyone why family and music have always belonged to one another. The Oak Ridge Boys, country music’s beloved quartet, stood shoulder to shoulder with Rockland Road, a multi-generational family band whose voices blend like a living echo of the Boys’ own timeless sound.
It wasn’t just a concert — it was a celebration of legacy.
The Oak Ridge Boys — Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban — have spent more than fifty years defining what country harmony sounds like. Their voices have carried through churches, arenas, and state fairs; their songs like “Elvira” and “American Made” have become part of America’s musical fabric. But on this night, their voices found new life beside a group that shares both their spirit and their roots.
Rockland Road, formed by Paul and Jamie Martin, along with their four children — March, Kell, Texas, and Tallant — are no strangers to country lineage. Paul Martin once played bass for the Oak Ridge Boys, and Jamie is the daughter of Duane Allen himself. So when the two groups met onstage, it wasn’t just a collaboration; it was family coming home.
From the first note of “Thank God for Kids,” the connection was undeniable. Duane Allen and his daughter Jamie sang in perfect sync, their voices weaving together like threads from the same fabric. Richard Sterban’s deep, resonant bass rolled beneath the melody, while the younger Martins added layers of harmony so tight and bright they could’ve been born from the same chord.
Between songs, Joe Bonsall, ever the storyteller, took a moment to reflect. “We’ve sung with a lot of folks over the years,” he said, “but it’s something special to stand next to people who not only carry on the music — they carry on the heart behind it.”
The crowd agreed. The applause wasn’t just for the performance; it was for what it represented — continuity, faith, and the unbroken chain of country music tradition.
When the two groups launched into “Elvira,” the audience was on its feet. The harmonies soared, generations blending seamlessly — the old and the new, the legendary and the rising. For those few minutes, time didn’t seem to exist. It was just music, pure and joyful, sung by people who understood that some songs are meant to be shared across ages.
As the final note faded, Duane Allen turned to his family and said softly, “This is what it’s all about — keeping the harmony alive.”
And he was right.
That night, the Oak Ridge Boys and Rockland Road didn’t just share a stage — they shared a legacy. A legacy built on love, music, and the kind of harmony that outlives the years, carrying forward from one generation to the next, one song at a time.