As we are all aware of by now, we lost Joe Bonsall this month. Joe battled some intense medical issues in recent years and unfortunately they were insurmountable. I have known this man for 50 years and worked very closely with him for 45 years in the Oak Ridge Boys and even longer in recording studio settings before that. There have sadly been many losses recently in my little corner of the world and they all have taken a toll on all of those that loved these fine people. Personally, the loss of Joe has really been something that I am still finding it very hard to process. He was always way more than a friend, boss, musical partner, tennis partner and partner in mischief.
I don’t know if it is mere coincidence that at the exact same time that we lost Rusty and Joe, several physical issues conspired to keep me in bed for 2 weeks and only on the 15th was I well enough and go get some studio work done in Indiana… the down time and the drives have given me a lot of time to think and grieve. We also lost Norah Lee Allen just a few months ago. Crushing blows. Losses like this might be something that you never quite get over, I cannot know that for sure. It’s rare that people you work for turn out to be Family in addition to being your bosses. But that is exactly what the 4 Oak Ridge Boys and their Families have been to me.
Many are the times that Joe and I tried to beat each other’s brains out on a tennis court somewhere in the world! We are all so competitive by nature anyway and there really was never a casual match. We played like it was always the finals of the US Open! And Joe made the most of it. I’d give a lot to be able to tell the true stories that we experienced, but maybe that’s too much…
Joe truly lived life to its fullest. All that crud about the “glass being half-filled”… Joe’s glass was always seemingly full already. Sounds trite but that’s the truth. He had a great sense of Family and kept them close all of his life. He had an affection for the fans that made the group what it became that was deep and true. Certainly we never really seem to know what we have until they are no longer here for us to banter with. I already miss Joe so much that the tears have yet to stop coming.
But, I really do wanna start just remembering him for the lasting legacy that he left behind. That is without debate. He made the most of his time here on earth. I wish I could say the same.
I will leave you with one story that does loom large with me.
One time before I became a sailor, I had a bass boat and I took it into the cove at Joe’s house on the lake. We chatted at his dock and I took off on my way out of the cove slowly, as to not disturb the other boats. Standard procedure. Well, I had a small pair of shorts on that barely covered my tail and I was sitting high on the back deck of my boat. So… Joe took his BB gun and made a good aim… once I got about 75 yards from his dock he bared down and SHOT me right at the top of my butt!!! That gun was POWERFUL and it hurt like HELL… I let out a scream straight out of a John Carpenter movie, gunned the accelerator on my boat and got the heck outta that cove FORTHWITH!!! I could hear Mary’s voice echoing through that cove giving him hell for shooting me… ”You coulda killed him, Joe!!!“ I had a bruise approximately 4 inches in diameter for about a week after that little incident…
That is but one example of the fun that I had with that man… Ya just NEVER knew what was gonna be next with he and I… My friend, I will never forget you… It is just not possible… Rest easy and enjoy what you rightly earned…………………
Joseph S. Bonsall
May 18, 1948 – July 9, 2024
He will be forever in your heart Ron.
Oh Ron, What a memory, we have a million!!! He always was a dare devil!!! Love to you Ron
Thank you for sharing Ron. Love you and praying for you and everyone in the organization.
This was wonderful to read. Thank you for sharing ❤️. I think often about the loss suffered by all the Boys and band. Nora Lee, Rusty, Richard’s father-in -law, and Joe. All of you are in the thoughts and prayers of your many loving fans. May God bless you with strength during this trying time. Grief won’t go away so I pray for strength for you as you move through the coming day, months and years 🙏🙏🙏❤️💔
Well said, RF! I remember that Bb Fun deal.
Ron, you are truly a blessing to Joe as well. Never forget that ever!! I can’t tell you how many times we would have conversations about the band and who was doing what new projects at that time and you would come up. His eyes would light up and he would be so proud of what you were accomplishing at that moment in time. I do have to admit most of the time it was to get even with you after you did something to him. So I don’t doubt while we are missing him terribly here there is no doubt in my mind he misses us all as well. I also do very much believe he has your humor and he is planning your enterance to be one hell of a reunion and it will be his biggest ultimate practical joke against you. Love you dear friend.
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man! Joe will truly be missed by all he touched with his voice, wit, laughter, intelligence, smile and friendship, especially you all so close to him! There will
never be another Joe Bonsall and he was one of a kind!💔❤️
Beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing. He is deeply missed by so many he touched.
Ron, even though being seperated by considerable distance – up here in Toronto🇨🇦 – and not having the close relationship for 45 years like you and Joe had, I too am still processing and grieving his passing. I made a brief comment on X (formerly Twitter) on July 11, but cannot find the right words to pay proper public tribute to Joe so far. (I think we all knew, but couldn’t/wouldn’t admit or face it, Joe’s passing was imminent and inevitable, considering his declining health over the last 4 years, but particularly the last 30 months.)
Joe & I had a kind of tweet-pal (pen-pal) relationship via regular direct messages, and having had 3 in-person chats since October 2009, when my (twin) brother (Ron) and I attended the Oaks Rally at Gaylord Opryland, for our 60th birthday celebration. Joe & I had also planned to have lunch together at some point in the Oaks tour schedule, but that never worked out. We were to discuss SGM, family, baseball, football and other topics of mutual interest.
Ron, I’m truly sorry for your deep loss of a long friendship. I’m also glad you are feeling some better again, yourself.
Ron, yes. Get over the loss? No. Learn to go on, remembering the good? Yes. Sending hugs.