Richard Sterban Biography

Is Richard Sterban Still Married or Not? Who is His Wife?

Richard Sterban is a famous bass singer who has been married twice in his life. His first marriage was to a mysterious whom he met when he was singing with The Orions. They tied the knot in 1966 and had three sons: Richard Jr., Chris Sterban, and Doug Sterban. Nevertheless, their marriage was short-lived, and they ended up getting divorced in 1977. 

Sterban then met his second wife Donna Sterban when he was touring with The Oak Ridge Boys. They fell in love and got married in 1982. They have two daughters: Lauren Sterban and Tori Sterban. They have been happily married for over 39 years and reside in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Subsequently, he expressed gratitude for both of his marriages, acknowledging the valuable lessons he learned from them. Again, he expressed immense pride in his children and grandchildren, emphasizing that they bring him the utmost joy.

How Much is Richard Sterban's Net Worth?

Richard Sterban is a wealthy and successful singer who has a net worth of $1 million similar to Swedish-American contemporary artist Cleo Kinnaman. He has made his fortune from his long and illustrious career with The Oak Ridge Boys, the country and gospel quartet that has sold over 41 million records and won five Grammy Awards. He is also a solo artist who has released a gospel album and a memoir.

His memoir, From Elvis to Elvira: My Life On Stage, chronicles his journey from singing backup for Elvis Presley to becoming the bass voice of The Oak Ridge Boys. He shares his stories, insights, and experiences from his five decades in the music industry. He also reveals his personal life, his faith, and his passions.

How Richard Sterban Became a Country & Gospel Star?

Richard Sterban started his musical career by singing with a local band called The Orions while he was studying at Trenton State College. He then joined J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, who were the backup singers for Elvis Presley. He toured with Presley for two years and even sang on his hit song Burning Love. He also performed with other legends like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.

In 1972, he left the Stamps Quartet and became a member of The Oak Ridge Boys, a country and gospel vocal group that had been active since the 1940s. He replaced Noel Fox as the bass singer and added his distinctive voice to the quartet’s harmony.

Likewise, he helped the group achieve mainstream success with songs like Elvira, Bobbie Sue, American Made, and Thank God for Kids. He also sang lead vocals on some songs, such as Dream On and I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes. He and his bandmates were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

What is Richard Sterban's, Vocal Range?

Richard Sterban is one of the most recognizable bass singers in the music industry. His vocal range spans from E-flat 1 to E4, which means he can hit notes that are lower than most humans can hear and higher than some tenors can sing. He has been a member of the country and gospel vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys since 1972 and has contributed to their distinctive sound and harmony.

One of Richard Sterban’s most famous moments was his “oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow” bass solo in the Oak Ridge Boys’ hit song Elvira, which was released in 1981 and won them a Grammy Award. In the second chorus of the song, he does a G2-C2 drop, which is considered one of the lowest notes ever recorded in a pop song. He can also sing lead vocals on some songs, such as Dream On, which has a high note of A3. He has shown his versatility and talent as a singer throughout his career.

How Richard Sterban and his Wife Give Back to the Community?

Richard Sterban has been involved in various philanthropic activities throughout his career. He and his bandmates have supported causes such as the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Feed the Children, and the Boy Scouts of America. They have also performed for U.S. troops overseas and at the White House for several presidents.

Richard and his wife Donna have also established their foundation, the Richard A. Sterban and Donna L. Sterban Foundation, which is a private grantmaking foundation that supports charitable organizations. According to their latest tax filing, the foundation had $280,700 in revenue and $244,845 in assets in 2020.

Some of the recipients of their grants include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Richard Sterban's Wiki-Bio, Parents, & Education 

Richard Sterban was born on April 24, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey. His parents were Richard Sterban and Mary Sterban, who were of Slovak descent. Raised in a Catholic household, he received his education at St. Joseph's High School in Camden.

Regarding his education, he graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1961 and then enrolled at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) where he majored in music education. He also sang in the college choir and joined a local band called The Orions.

Does Richard have Any Health Problems or Illnesses?

Richard Sterban has kept his health issues private. However, he has had some illnesses in the past few years. In 2017, he was found to have atrial fibrillation, a heart disorder that makes the heartbeat irregular. He had a treatment called ablation to fix the problem and bring back his normal heart rhythm. He recovered well and continued to tour with the band.

In 2022, he said he was retiring from touring, saying he wanted to slow down and enjoy his family time. He did not give any health reasons for his choice, but he expressed his appreciation for his long and fruitful career with the Oak Ridge Boys. He also said he would still make music with the band and show up at special events. 

In early 2023, Sterban reportedly fell off a stool during a performance by the Oaks Friday night in Tulsa and fainted. He had gone missing for most of 2023 due to his health but in September returned to the band.

On January 03, 2024, his Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall announced through a statement posted on X that he was retiring from touring due to his illness. He explained that his battle with a neuromuscular disorder has made walking challenging, leading him to step back from live performances on the road. 

Richard Sterban’s Twitter and Facebook Accounts: What He Posts & Why

Richard Sterban is not only a singer but also a social media user. He likes to connect with his fans and followers online and share his thoughts and experiences. He has accounts on two popular platforms: Twitter and Facebook.

On Twitter, Richard Sterban goes by the handle @RASterban and tweets about his family, his music, his faith, and his views on various topics. He also retweets posts from his bandmates, friends, and other celebrities. On Facebook, Richard Sterban has a page with the name Richard Sterban and does not have an Instagram account, though he may appear on some of his bandmates’ or family members’ posts. 

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