The Oak Ridge Boys’ Performance at George H.W. Bush’s Funeral Fulfilled a Longtime Promise

The Oak Ridge Boys’ performance at George H.W. Bush’s funeral in December 2018 was a heartwarming (and subtly humorous) tribute to their friend and former president. In light of longtime Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall’s death at 76, we couldn’t help but recall the stunning performance the quartet gave of “Amazing Grace.” The group’s distinct four-part harmony echoed through the sanctuary of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, as they performed.

The 41st president was 94 years old at the time of his passing, making him the longest-living U.S. President in American history at the time of his death. (Jimmy Carter later broke that record in the spring of the following year.) When you live that long, crossing paths with old friends becomes more and more likely—and the Oak Ridge Boys were no exception.

The Funeral Wasn’t The First Time They Sang For Bush Sr.

The late Joe Bonsall handled the Oak Ridge Boys’ introduction as he and his bandmates stood at the chancel of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on December 6, 2018. Pitch pipe in hand, Bonsall recalled the Oak Ridge Boys’ first performance for George H.W. Bush when he was Vice President under Ronald Reagan’s administration from 1981 to 1989. The White House hired the Oak Ridge Boys to perform at a Congressional Barbecue on October 6, 1983.

“It’s an honor,” Bonsall told the solemn congregation. “We first sang for him in October of 1983 on the lawn of the White House when he was Vice President. He said, ‘Fellas,’ he always called us fellas, ‘Would you sing me a few songs? I’m a big fan.’ For decades, we have sang for him. This is, again, a real honor to be here.”

Bonsall continued with a lighthearted dig at the former president. “What a lot of people may not know is he fancied himself to be a good bass singer,” Bonsall said with a smirk. As the congregation slowly started to laugh, Bonsall added, “He was not.” The comment even got a hearty laugh from Bush Sr.’s son, former president George W. Bush, and his wife, former First Lady Laura Bush.

The Oak Ridge Boys’ Stunning Performance For George H.W. Bush

After the laughter from the congregation died down, Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joe Bonsall prepared to blow the quartet’s starting note for their rendition of “Amazing Grace.” “We’ll sing for our president,” Bonsall said before the group began their a cappella performance. Just like all those decades ago on the White House Lawn, the Oak Ridge Boys’ harmonies blended beautifully, further amplified by the resonant sanctuary of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

The Oak Ridge Boys’ performance at George H.W. Bush’s funeral fulfilled their promise to their former president and longtime friend. Bonsall explained to CNN that Bush Sr. had requested the band perform at his funeral the summer before his passing. “We said, ‘Of course we will, sir, but let’s not talk about that,’” Bonsall recalled.

“Singing “Amazing Grace” with our great friend laying there in the coffin in front of you, it really brought it home for us that he’s actually gone,” Bonsall continued. “It was one of the greatest things that we’ve ever had the honor of doing. To say goodbye to him not only as a president and a world leader and a diplomat. It was saying goodbye to a friend.”

Photo by David J Phillip/UPI/Shutterstock