The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall Is Retiring from Touring Due to Neuromuscular Disorder: ‘I Will Never Forget’ (Exclusive)

Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys is prioritizing his health and giving up touring.

The tenor singer announced exclusively to PEOPLE on Wednesday that he will no longer be touring with the band.

“Many of you know I’ve been struggling with a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder. Now I’ve gotten to the point where it’s impossible to walk and I’ve practically pulled off the road,” said Bonsall, 75. “It just got too hard. It’s been a great 50 years and I’m grateful to the entire crew and staff of the Oak Ridge Boys for the constant love and support they’ve shown me through it all.”

He added: “I will never forget, and for those of you who have kept me in constant prayer, I thank you and I ask that you continue to pray.”

Oak Ridge Boys to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Farewell Tour: ‘Still Loving Every Second’

At a Dec. 30 concert in Greenville, Mississippi, The Oak Ridge Boys — consisting of Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban — introduced Ben James, who will officially replace Bonsall.

“There’s a young man out there named Ben James who sings for me and he needs your love and encouragement… his sound is different than mine but he brings a ton of talent to the table,” Bonsall added. “The Oak Ridge Boys will finish their farewell tour without me, but rest assured I’m good with it all! God’s got it!!”

Ben James.

Josh Daubin

James introduced the band in 2022 during a concert in Wheeling, West Virginia.

“Joe handed me the mic and said, ‘You’ve got the next verse,'” said James, 27. “And I’m not sure I’ll ever get over that moment. ‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up. It’s still one of those timeless songs that never gets old.”

The Oak Ridge Boys will tour through September on their The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s current lineup playing their first show together.

Named after their hit song “American Made,” released 40 years ago in 1983, the Country Music Hall of Famers play fan favorites from their decades-long career at farewell shows.

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Oak Ridge Boys.

Jon Mir

Bonsall shared the statement exclusively with PEOPLE in September. “You could never have convinced that 25-year-old Joe Bonsall in 1973 that in 50 years the four of us would still be singing together and loving every second of it,” the singer-songwriter said.

“Our mantra has always been LET’S SING… and it still is!” Bonsall continued. “We’ve had our challenges over all these decades, but we’ve always persevered as people who have always cared about doing things right and God has blessed us for that.”

The “Elvira” artist’s bandmates also expressed their excitement for their final performances in a press release.

“We’re going on a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” Golden, 84, said. “They have always been with us in good and bad times. I will always be grateful to every person who came to a show, bought a t-shirt, played our music and generally loved us enough to spend their hard earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”

Oak Ridge Boys.

Oak Ridge Boys

Check out the band’s upcoming tour dates below:

SAT JANUARY 20 Grand Opera House from 1894 Galveston, Texas

Sun, JANUARY 21 Grand Opera House 1894 Galveston, Texas

Fri., Feb. 2 Boot Barn Hall (Gainesville) Gainesville, Ga.

Sun, FEBRUARY 11 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio, Texas

Thursday, FEBRUARY 29 Florida Strawberry Festival 2024 Plant City, Fla.

Sat March 2nd Montgomery Performing Arts Center Montgomery, Ala.

Fri., Mar. 15 Foxwoods Resort Casino Ledyard, Conn.

Sat March 16 American Music Theater Lancaster, Pa.

Sun, MARCH 17 American Music Theater Lancaster, Pa.

Sat March 23 Sugar Creek Casino Hinton, Okla.

Thu APR 04 Oxford Performing Arts Center Oxford, Ala.

Fri, APR 05 Morganton Town Hall Morganton, NC

Sat, APR 06 Alabama Theater North Myrtle Beach, SC

Wednesday, April 10 Clay Green County Agricultural Fair Cove Springs, Fla.

Fri, MAY 17 Peoples Bank Theater Marietta, Ohio

Sat, MAY 18 The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour Defiance, Ohio

Fri, JUN 07 Hartville Kitchen Hartville, Ohio

Sat, JUNE 8 Hartville Kitchen Hartville, Ohio

Sun., Sept. 15 Kansas State Fair Hutchinson, Kansas

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Source: HIS Education