Robinson Grand bids farewell to the Oak Ridge Boys

“Out of every national act that we have ever had, they are the ones who have come the most often,” said Jason A. Young, Robinson Grand program manager. “They have sold more tickets than any of our other national acts as well. In total, around 4,000 tickets have been sold throughout all of their performances here.”

Young said an Oak Ridge Boys concert is always something special.

“They have never not been awesome,” he said. “They always put on a good show. They are absolute legends. They are in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.”

Friday’s concert was a sellout, Young said.

“The ticket sales prove there is a demand for them in Clarksburg,” he said. “They are certainly a group the people want to see. And there are going to be a lot of people here to see them tonight. The best way I can put it is if we tried to fit more people in here, the fire marshal would be called to shut us down.”

Arlene IaQuinta of Clarksburg had seen the Oak Ridge Boys perform twice before Friday night.

“They put on such a good show, so I just had to come and see them again,” she said. “I am kind of sad that this is their farewell tour. This is definitely going to be a huge loss to country music.”

Marsha Lucas of Morgantown also had seen the Oak Ridge Boys perform twice before Friday night.

“Both times were in Morgantown,” she said. “The first time I saw them was when I was young, back in the 1980s. The first time I saw them I was at the Coliseum in Morgantown. The second time was this past summer at the amphitheater in downtown. Now I get to see them again one last time before they retire.”

Young described Friday’s concert as “bittersweet.”

“They are on one of the final legs of their farewell tour,” he said. “It feels very bittersweet to see them go. So all in all, it’s a bittersweet night at the Robinson Grand.”

Lucas expressed similar sentiments.

“It is sad to see them on their farewell tour,” she said. “I was sad when Joe left. But I will say they are just as good as the first time I saw them perform.”