Oak Ridge Boys' "Elvira" Back in Spokane

Posted by amyclark on 08/20/2008

12/10/2007 Stephen L. Betts On Dec. 3, the Oak Ridge Boys took their Christmas Cookies tour to Spokane, Wash., the town where, in 1981, the quartet performed their soon-to-be-massive hit “Elvira” in concert for the first time. Spokane provided the Oaks with some great memories,” says group member Duane Allen. “The first time we sang ‘Elvira’ live it was in Spokane. We had to repeat the song several times, then come back at the end of the show and sing it again.” That performance gave the group a taste of what was to come. “Elvira” went on to become the biggest song of the Oaks' career. With its catchy rhythm and Richard Sterban’s “oom-papa-oom-mow-mow,” the tune became an instant sing-a-long and a real crowd pleaser, helping to launch the group’s hugely country-pop crossover career. The Oak Ridge Boys are in the midst of a Christmas tour. From now through Dec. 22, the group will play nearly every night, taking the Christmas spirit to cities as diverse as Redding, Calif. and Lake Charles, La. By the time the group completes the 32-concert trek in 38 days (with just 7 days off the entire time), the tour will have covered 10,134 miles. The Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas Cookies Tour” itinerary: December 9 – Yountville, CA (Lincoln Theatre) 11 – Hanford, CA (Hanford Fox Theatre 12 – Bakersfield, CA (Fox Theatre) 13 – Santa Ynez, CA (Chumash Casino) 14 – Temecula, CA (Pechanga Resort & Casino) 15 – Tucson, AZ (Desert Diamond Casino) 16 – Mescelero, NM (Inn of the Mountain Gods) 17-18 – Richardson, TX (Eisemann Center) 20-21 – Lake Charles, LA (L’Auburge du lac Casino 22 – Tunica, MS – (Gold Strike Casino)