Richard Sterban: key obituary facts
Is Richard Sterban dead? Yes. Richard Sterban died on November 14, 2026, at age 83.
Cause of death: Richard Sterban's cause of death was reported as Cancer.
What was Richard Sterban known for?
He was an American musician.
More about Richard Sterban
Born: 24 April 1943.
Place of birth: Camden.
Gender: male.
Occupation: singer, songwriter.
Nationality: United States.
Education: The College of New Jersey, Collingswood High School.
Career began: 1972.
Also known as: Richard Anthony Sterban.
Genres: Country, pop, gospel.
Years active: 1962–2026.
Richard Sterban, the bass singer for the country and gospel quartet the Oak Ridge Boys, died of pancreatic cancer on November 14, 2026, aged 83.
Born Richard Anthony Sterban in Camden, New Jersey, he grew up in Collingswood. After graduating from Collingswood High School, he attended Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey.
In 1972, he joined the Oak Ridge Boys and sang bass in the quartet. His musical profile encompassed country, gospel and pop, while the group was identified as a country and gospel ensemble. Sterban’s career began in 1972, the same year he entered the group, and his listed years of activity ran through 2026. In 2015, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys. The recognition was for his membership in the quartet, where bass singing was his defining role. His biographical record also identifies him as a singer and songwriter. Sterban was born on April 24, 1943, and died in Hendersonville, Tennessee. His life connected a Camden birth and Collingswood upbringing with an education at Trenton State College and a career as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys, whose genres included country and gospel.