The Oaks are calling it a day. After eighty years as a band, and fifty with their current lineup, the legendary Oak Ridge Boys have announced they are embarking on their farewell tour.

They formed in 1943 as the Oak Ridge Quartet, and had many lineup changes before the current and longest running lineup got together in 1973: lead singer Duane Allen, tenor Joe Bonsall, baritone William Lee Golden, and bass Richard Sterban. 

Dubbed “American Made: The Farewell Tour,” the first set of dates have been announced. The tour will kick off today with two dates at the Mansion Theater For The Performing Arts in Branson, Missouri, before running through the rest of the year. Beyond that, even the band has no idea how long this final tour will run, with Allen saying, “I don’t know how long the tour will last, but we hope to return to as many parts of the country as we can. Thank you so much for these 50 years. For me, it’s 57 1/2 years. I have given you the best part of my life and you have rewarded me with a wonderful career.” See the updated list of show dates here.

Source: WhiskeyRiff