After 43 Years, The Oak Ridge Boys Release First-Ever Music Video For “Elvira”
The Oak Ridge Boys Debut Star-Studded “Elvira” Video – The First Official Music Video They’ve Ever Released To Accompany The Iconic Song
It’s hard to believe, but until this year (2024), The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira” never had an accompanying music video. They released their recording in 1981, two years before the first country music cable TV network launched.
Because of this, the Oaks never created an official music video for “Elvira.” Although they have participated in many live videos of themselves performing their signature song.
Finally, the Oaks filmed their first-ever music video for “Elvira” in October 2023. The fun and lively clip was filmed at John Rich‘s popular Redneck Riveria bar in downtown Nashville.
The video features a star-studded cast of country artists, including Big & Rich, Trace Adkins, Kid Rock, Lorrie Morgan, The Gatlin Brothers, and Ray Stevens. It also opens with up-and-coming artists such as Chase Matthew and Danni Stefanetti singing along to “Elvira” during karaoke at the bar.
“My goal since working with the Oak Ridge Boys has been to help them expand their reach to younger demographics through creative means of promoting their new albums and releases,” the video’s director, Brandon Wood, told Billboard. “It just made sense that our group of unsuspecting karaoke singers would be a group of influencers, with respectable audiences of their own.”
The Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen spoke with Billboard as well, saying:
“It took a while for me to rally around the idea. Then I [realized] what they were doing was really paying tribute to the song, not us, and how that song affected everybody who heard it. [Then], I was gung-ho — because I really feel like once anybody hears that song, it’s just magic.”
This Was Joe Bonsall’s Last Video Before His Death On July 9
However, it is a little bittersweet for the Oaks to release the music video for “Elvira” now. Longtime member Joe Bonsall passed away on July 9 at the age of 76.
Bonsall retired at the beginning of 2024, so the “Elvira” video was the last music video he ever filmed with the Oaks. Brandon Wood recalls working with Bonsall on the video, telling Billboard:
“Joe was a pro. He always gave 1000 percent and always had fun doing it. This day was no different. The energy he got from being in that room with his peers who love him was magical. We all felt it, but I think he particularly had a blast hugging necks and celebrating this amazing song.”
The video’s last shot focuses on Bonsall as he flashes his beloved smile. Wood said the video was always set up to end with that shot, but now, after Bonasll’s passing, the ending feels “serendipitous.”
Watch the Oak Ridge Boys’ new video below.
