The Oak Ridge Boys’ Bonsall died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on July 9
Blake Shelton is mourning the loss of Joe Bonsall.
After the tragic news of his death on Tuesday, July 9, the “Sangria” singer remembered the late Oak Ridge Boys member with a tribute post on X.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of my friend Joe Bonsall’s passing. I’ve NEVER seen Joe when he wasn’t smiling and completely full of life,” Shelton, 48, wrote alongside a photo performing with the band.
He continued, “He absolutely loved singing like no one I ever met. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his @theoakridgeboys brothers. We all lost a special person today.”
In 2016, Shelton collaborated with the Southern gospel group on his song “Doing It to Country Songs.”
Bonsall died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a press release shared with PEOPLE.
Per his request, a funeral will not be held for him but he encouraged donations be made to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
The tenor singer announced his retirement from touring in January. At the time, he told PEOPLE he was prioritizing his health — though he kept his exact diagnosis private.
“Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder. I am now to a point that walking is impossible so I have basically retired from the road,” he said. “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.”
The musician added, “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 — who is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke, two great-grandsons, Chance and Grey and a sister, Nancy — was a member of the Oak Ridge Boys for over 50 years before his death.
With the group, which he joined in 1973, Bonsall landed in the prestigious Grand Ole Opry, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame back in 1994.
In addition to his music, Bonsall was a published author. He wrote 11 books, including a memoir titled I See Myself, which will be released in November.
In September the band announced a celebratory farewell tour to commemorate their 50th anniversary.
“We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” William Lee Golden said in a press release. “They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad. I will always be thankful to every person who came out to a show, bought a T-shirt, played our music, and overall, loved us enough to spend their hard-earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”