ROME TOWNSHIP — Thursday will be a special night at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds when at 9 p.m. the Oak Ridge Boys will take center stage at the grandstand.

“Our show is very, very special,” Richard Sterben, bass singer for the iconic music group. “You will hear lot of the hits. We’ve got to do ‘Elvira’ and ‘Thank God for Kids,’ The hit songs people expect to hear from us. Then we will do from our album ‘Rock of Ages’ We will do gospel songs from that particular project. We are also very patriotic guys. We will honor our country as well. A great night of good country music. There will be something for every member of the family. We encourage parents to bring out the kids. That is what we will bring to town.”

Recently the group receive the Dove Award for their gospel album and last year was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“Our latest project is the gospel album,” Sterben said. “It is old hymns. One song is pretty special. ‘Sweet Jesus’ that (Merle Haggard) co-wrote the song. He wrote it for us”

The group recorded their part while Haggard did his in a separate studio. The two were put together to sound as if they were all in the same studio. That accomplishment won them the Dove award.

“The best thing that has even happened to us in our career is being inducted in Country Music Hall of Fame,” Sterben said. “It is difficult to find words to describe how special that is. You look at people in the hall of fame like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. For the Oak Ridge Boys to be part of that family. It is the greatest honors we have ever had. It is a very humbling experience It is mind boggling. It is big deal there is no doubt about it. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Despite singing for more than four decades the Oak Ridge Boys has always been able to transcend generations.

“I think over the course of the years we have been able to reinvent ourselves,” Sterben said. “We have not changed ourselves, but we have worked with some young producers that have taken us down some roads musically. That has helped us. I also think the relationship that we have between the four of us is very, very important. Each guy brings something different to the table. That is part of our appeal. We have developed a friendship that is second to none. We pull together as a team. We are a true brotherhood.”

The concert is free but VIP tickets are available that includes special seating and an opportunity to meet the group. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 740-377-4550.