It’s only July, but the country music community has already dealt with several losses. Whether it was illness or something sudden, we will be mourning the passing of these five extraordinary people for a long, long time.
1. Joe Bonsall
News of Joe Bonsall‘s death shocked the country music community. Bonsall was a member of The Oak Ridge Boys for 50 years, announcing only in the beginning of 2024 that he was retiring from touring, due to ongoing neuromuscular disorder, which was revealed after his passing to be ALS.
“Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder,” Bonsall said at the time. “I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult. It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying.”
Bonsall’s death was devastating for all of the remaining members of The Oak Ridge Boys, but especially William Lee Golden, whose son, Rusty Golden, passed away one week before.
“This has been a week of sadness with the loss of my son, Rusty Golden, and now the loss of our brother and our partner of over 50 years, Joe Bonsall,” Golden said. “Thankfully we have the memories made and the songs that we’ve sang together to get us through. It gives me comfort to know that Joe and Rusty are together again. Our prayers are with his family.”
2. Toby Keith
Toby Keith tragically passed away on February 5, 2024. The “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” singer revealed in June of 2022 that he had stomach cancer, which he had been quietly battling for several months.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith posted on social media. “I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
In November, Keith revealed he was doing everything he could to beat cancer.
“I feel pretty good. It’s a rollercoaster all the time with this stuff,” he said on the Sellout Crowd podcast. “I have the resources financially and otherwise to get the best treatments I can get. They’re taking great care of me and I’m getting all the latest stuff you can get. In fact, I’m going tomorrow to Florida to see another guy down there, that’s got some other kind of treatments, and I’m trying them all. I’m throwing the kitchen sink at it.”
In December, Keith completed a three-night residency in Las Vegas, and hinted he planned on touring in 2024.
3. Dave Loggins
Country music fans may not instantly recognize Dave Loggins’ name, but they’ll recognize the songs he wrote. Loggins, a talented singer-songwriter, is responsible for some of the most well-known songs in both country and rock music, including “Please Come to Boston,” which he wrote and recorded, and was later covered by Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette and more.
Loggins also had a No.1 hit in 1984 with “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” a duet with Anne Murray.
As a songwriter, Loggins wrote “Everyday” for The Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama‘s “40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)” and “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler),” Kenny Rogers‘ “Morning Desire,” “You’ve Got Me To Hold On To” for Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd‘s “She Is His Only Need,” and many more.
Loggins was 76 years old when he passed away on July 10. He requested no service be held, but donations be made to Alive Hospice in his honor.
4. Erv Woolsey
Erv Woolsey‘s name might not be instantly recognizable, but his work behind the scenes helped create one of the biggest country music legends of all time. Woolsey was George Strait‘s longtime manager, and part of his career since the very beginning. It was Woolsey who convinced MCA Records in 1971 to give Strait a record deal in 1981. In 1984, Woolsey left MCA Records to devote himself to managing Strait, which he did until Woolsey passed away on March 20, from complications related to a surgery.
“My manager for around 45 years and most importantly my friend for even longer, Erv Woolsey, passed away this morning,” Strait shared on social media. “He had complications from a surgery and just couldn’t overcome it. He was a very tough man, and fought hard, but sadly it was just too much. We will miss him so very much and will never forget all the time we had together. Won’t ever be the same without him.”
5. Rusty Golden
Rusty Golden might be best known as the son of William Lee Golden, but he definitely had plenty of talent on his own. Rusty joined the popular Southern gospel group, The Rambos, when he was just 13 years old, and later toured with Larry Gatlin, and played on numerous recordings, including Gatlin’s “Love Is Just A Game,” Marty Stuart’s “Pilgrim” and more.
Rusty won two Song of the Year awards, for The Booth Brothers’ “What Salvation’s Done for me” and Karen Peck & New River’s “I Want to Thank you.”
In March of 2020, as the world was shutting down because of the pandemic, Rusty and his brother, Chri Golden, joined their father in creating William Lee Golden and The Goldens, fulfilling a longstanding dream the family patriarch held for decades. The group recorded 34 songs as part of their Golden Classics collection.
Rusty was 65 years old when he passed away on July 1.
“This is the hardest thing ever for a father to have to face,” William Lee Golden said, announcing the passing of his oldest child. “I love my family more than anything. Rusty was a great musician, a talented songwriter, and a wonderful son. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for the days ahead. I love you, son.”
