'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Richard Sterban, whose deep bass voice anchored The Oak Ridge Boys for more than half a century and whose rumbling refrain on “Elvira” became one of the most familiar sounds in American music, died November 14, 2026 due to complications from bronchitis and pneumonia after fighting a long, hard battle with cancer. He was 83.
Sterban joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1972, walking away from a job singing behind Elvis Presley to chase a goal he had set for himself as a young man.  With lead singer Duane Allen, baritone William Lee Golden and tenor Joe Bonsall, he helped carry a Southern gospel quartet into the heart of country and pop music.
The group placed 34 singles in the country Top 10, 17 of them at No. 1, earned Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards, and became members of the Grand Ole Opry, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
To millions of fans, he was the voice at the foundation of the Oaks’ four-part harmony and, for a few famous bars of “Elvira,” (oom poppa mow mow), the voice out in front. Offstage, he was a sharp dresser, a lifelong baseball fan and longtime part owner of Nashville’s minor league team.
Born in New Jersey, he started singing at age six as a soprano in Sunday school and sang tenor in his seventh-grade glee club. By the time he returned to school for eighth grade, his voice had dropped to bass.
He helped found the Keystones, a gospel quartet in which a young Joe Bonsall would also sing. The friendship in those years grew into a partnership of some 50 years.
His path then led to J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, which Elvis Presley hired to sing behind him. For about a year and a half, Sterban sang with Presley onstage night after night, recorded with him and appeared in the 1972 concert film Elvis on Tour.
Then The Oak Ridge Boys called. The gospel quartet, which had yet to score a country hit, needed a bass singer. Sterban had to choose between the biggest stage in show business and his own dream. He joined the Oaks. Bonsall followed in 1973, completing the lineup of Allen, Bonsall, Golden and Sterban that would carry the group through most of the next five decades.
Success did not come overnight. Johnny Cash featured the group in his touring show and helped them sign with Columbia Records. In 1975, while opening shows for Roy Clark, the group caught the attention of Clark’s manager who told them they were one hit record away from being a major act and urged them to sing country. They signed and toured the Soviet Union with Clark in 1976 as the first country group to perform there.
“Y’all Come Back Saloon” reached No. 3 on the country chart in 1977, and the hits kept coming: In 1978 the Country Music Association named the Oaks Vocal Group of the Year, and the Academy of Country Music named them Top Vocal Group. Their harmonies also turned up on records by other artists, including Paul Simon’s pop hit “Slip Slidin’ Away.”
In 1981 came “Elvira.” The song went to No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on the pop chart, sold more than two million copies, was named Single of the Year. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
“Bobbie Sue” (1982) became another No. 1 country hit and reached No. 12 on the pop chart, and “American Made” (1983) became both a No. 1 single and a familiar advertising jingle.
Sterban remained a constant through every chapter. From 1987 to 1995, while Golden was apart from the group, the Oaks kept scoring No. 1 hits.
The group’s later years brought loss. Bonsall retired from the road at the end of 2023 and died July 9, 2024, of complications of ALS.
In May 2025, after appearing with the group at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Sterban stepped away from touring for health reasons. He also sang on several tracks of Buried Treasures, the group’s October 2026 album.

Tony Newman has lived a life shaped by rock ’n’ roll’s biggest moments—and some of its hardest lessons.
He is a drummer who has played with legendary acts including the Jeff Beck Group, David Bowie, and T. Rex. Tony provided the rhythm for the album Diamond Dogs and performed with Sounds Incorporated as an opening act for the Beatles. He has also been a session musician for artists like Donovan and the Everly Brothers.
In this conversation, the veteran drummer looks back on the path that took him from buying his first drum kit on hire purchase in London to playing with some of the era’s most celebrated artists.
Newman recalls his early years with Sounds Incorporated, touring with The Beatles and opening for them at Shea Stadium in 1965. He describes the deafening crowds, the challenge of playing without being able to hear himself, and the thrill of sharing a bill with the band that changed popular music.
He also remembers working with David Bowie, Little Richard and other major names, and tells Sandy about his deep friendship with Marc Bolan. Newman joined T. Rex during a later resurgence, when the shows were selling out again. He reflects on Bolan’s charisma, their bond and the heartbreak of losing him.
Alongside the stories of life onstage, Newman speaks candidly about the personal cost of years of alcohol and drug use, the moment he sought treatment, and his sobriety since 1983.
Today, he says, he tries to live with kindness, love and a spiritual outlook.
It’s a frank, funny and moving conversation.

Gerry Beckley, the legendary co-founder, singer, and songwriter of the iconic band America, joins host Sandy Kaye on A Breath of Fresh Air for an intimate look into his life after 53 years of consecutive touring.
In this episode, Gerry gets candid about his pivotal decision to step back from the grueling life on the road to preserve his artistic legacy and protect his voice.
He shares how he transitioned from racing between airport gates to embracing a creative, "bi-hemispherical" life split between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia.
Listeners will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into Gerry’s deeply reflective new solo album, Merciful.
He discusses his remote collaborative writing process with Jeff Larson, digging unreleased treasures out of his vast personal song vault, and how rock legend Graham Nash ended up singing harmonies on his cover of Norwegian Wood.
From critiquing the modern "songwriting by committee" trend to sharing the midnight inspiration behind his track Amnesia, Gerry delivers a masterclass on the enduring power of melody, memory, and songcraft.

What happens when you keep doing what you love and stop chasing fame?
For Keb’ Mo’, it meant finding his own voice—and eventually becoming one of contemporary blues’ most celebrated artists.
In this episode, five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ joins Sandy for a warm, revealing conversation about the long road to recognition, the musicians who helped shape him and the personal upheaval behind his album, The Breakdown.
Born Kevin Roosevelt Moore, Keb’ Mo’ spent decades playing, writing and learning before his self-titled album brought him wider recognition in the 1990s.
He remembers wanting to make it in his twenties, then reaching his thirties and discovering that having a gig and getting to play mattered more than fame.
His mother had a different perspective: when was he going to get a proper job?
His musical education began early. At just 14, a steel-drum recording session brought him into a Los Angeles studio where he watched legendary bassist Carol Kaye at work.
Later, a chance encounter with Papa John Creach opened another door when the violinist and his colleagues heard Keb’s band rehearsing and walked in off the street. What followed was an opportunity to write, record and learn on the job.
Keb also recalls his time with the Whodunit Band under Monk Higgins, an experience he describes as a masterclass. Playing alongside seasoned musicians and backing visiting artists taught him how to listen, support a song and make the blues speak.
One guitarist’s blunt advice—that blues wasn’t supposed to be pretty—added another dimension to his carefully constructed playing.
Surprisingly, his deep exploration of acoustic country blues came later. Hearing Big Bill Broonzy at a friend’s house sparked a fascination with the honesty and directness of the music.
Robert Johnson and Son House became important touchstones, while theatre work gave him the chance to study and perform music from an earlier era. His aim was to develop a style of his own, carrying that same spirit of authenticity into his songwriting.
Another unlikely classroom was his work recreating hit songs for karaoke backing tracks. Taking recordings apart revealed how much their impact depended on simplicity: the instruments, melody and arrangement all served the story. It is a lesson he still brings to his music.
Keb shares how recordings he made alone, after his bandmates declined to work without payment, helped open the door to a record deal. He was already selling those cassettes at gigs, backing himself rather than waiting for a label’s approval. His enduring friendship with Taj Mahal, and their albums together, grew from that chapter of his life.
The conversation also explores what Grammy recognition means to him, his work with emerging artists and his belief that preparation and a clear sense of purpose can create opportunities.
For Keb, an award’s greatest value may be the person watching at home who suddenly believes their own dream is possible.
That perspective carries into The Breakdown, an album shaped by open-heart surgery and other deeply personal challenges. Keb reflects candidly on the physical vulnerability of recovery and explains why “Every Step of the Way” holds particular meaning for him: its gratitude embraces the difficult moments alongside the good ones.
He also shares the idea behind “We Make Love”—that compassion begins at home and spreads through the world through everyday acts of care.
Filled with humour, hard-earned insight and stories from a remarkable musical life, this episode explores the blues, songwriting, resilience and the quiet power of continuing to show up.
Listen to Keb’ Mo’ with Sandy Kaye on A Breath of Fresh Air, and visit https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au for more conversations celebrating music, memories and timeless stories.

John Ford Coley: The Life, the Hits and the Story Behind England Dan & John Ford Coley
Some songs take you straight back to a moment, a place or a person. For millions of listeners, “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You” and “Love Is the Answer” are among them.
On this episode, Sandy Kaye celebrates the life and musical journey of John Ford Coley, the singer, pianist and guitarist whose partnership with Dan Seals, better known as England Dan, helped define the sound of 1970s soft rock.
Growing up in Dallas, Texas, John’s musical world stretched from church hymns and classical piano to country music and rock ’n’ roll. His friendship with schoolmate Dan Seals led to their early band days in Southwest F.O.B., before the pair forged their own identity as England Dan & John Ford Coley.
Their path to success included early recordings, an international breakthrough with “Simone” and the setbacks of losing a record deal.
When “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” connected with audiences, the duo became familiar voices on radio around the world. Their blend of warm harmonies, memorable melodies and heartfelt songs produced a string of favourites, including “We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again,” “It’s Sad to Belong” and “Love Is the Answer.”
John’s story also extends well beyond the duo.
Following their split, he pursued new musical partnerships, acting, songwriting and production.
He later captured his experiences in his book, Backstage Pass, while continuing to perform the songs that have connected with generations of listeners.
This episode is a celebration of a musical life spanning friendship, persistence, reinvention and the lasting power of a great song.
Songs from John’s career to revisit
“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight”

“Nights Are Forever Without You”

“It’s Sad to Belong”

“We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again”

“Love Is the Answer”

“Simone”

Find out more
John Ford Coley: https://www. johnfordcoley.com
A Breath of Fresh Air: https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au
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