The Oak Ridge Boys, a country music group formed in the 1950s, have been associated with several notable figures in country music history, including a 1940s-born pioneer who influenced artists like George Strait and Garth Brooks, and a blind songwriter who penned hits for Keith Whitley and the group. Two years ago, the group lost a key tenor whose contributions helped shape their legacy, while recent headlines also mark the passing of a former member and the group's participation in a new music festival alongside Jake Owen and the Eli Young Band.