The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
CEDAR CITY — The Oak Ridge Boys swung through Cedar City Thursday night, bringing their homespun mix of country and Christmas to an appreciative crowd at Southern Utah University’s America First Event Center.
The band started off with old favorites like “Elvira” and “American Made,” then shifted to more Christmas-oriented songs like “Thank God for Kids,” along with”Brand New Star” and other highlights from their latest album, “17th Avenue Revival.”
The audience even joined in at times, singing along with a couple of the more familiar Christmas songs, namely “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.”
Santa Claus appeared midway through the show and greeted dozens of children at the front of the stage, giving each a red Santa cap.
Toward the end of the evening, band members Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban sat in rocking chairs onstage and shared some of their favorite Christmas memories.
The Country Music Hall of Fame artists also spoke of the experience of singing “Amazing Grace” at former Pres. George H.W. Bush’s funeral last week.
The two-hour concert was part of the group’s 29th annual Christmas tour, called “Shine the Light on Christmas Tour.”
Read more: Member of The Oak Ridge Boys talks to St. George News about band’s Christmas concert in Cedar City
Check out some of the evening’s highlights in the Cedar City News photo gallery below.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Front of The Oak Ridge Boys tour bus, The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Joe Bonsall and Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Audience members listen to The Oak Ridge Boys, "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Joe Bonsall introdues Santa Claus onstage during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus makes an appearance during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus gives hats to children during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus gives hats to children during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus gives hats to children during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus gives hats to children during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Santa Claus gives hats to children during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Oak Ridge Boys reminisce about Christmas during their "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Audience members use their cell phones as lights during The Oak Ridge Boys "Shine the Light on Christmas" concert, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 13, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.
Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have two young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.