An Introduction
by
Joseph S. Bonsall

Godfather – def. First appeared in the 12th century as, “One having a relation to someone or something analogous to that of a male sponsor to his godchild: and as one that founds, supports or inspires that child.”
– from Compton’s Dictionary

I am a firm believer in what I call the crossroads theory. In essence, I believe that there are many times in your life that you consciously or even unconsciously arrive at a meaningful crossroad where an event takes place that tends to mold, shape, and influence the rest of your life on earth. Sometimes it is merely a simple decision that we make in our hearts and minds to take the right road instead of the left. Or to choose the right thing to do instead of the wrong. Many of these decisions that we make are simple and very self-directed. Most, however, are divine interventions where God in His infinite wisdom has a definite plan in mind. But you must possess an open mind and an open heart to be aware of what it is that God is trying to tell you. So many missed opportunities exist because we just weren’t listening.
I believe in my heart that at the most meaningful crossroads, God places a human being right there on the fork of the road at the appropriate time. A special human being whose influence changes our hearts and our very direction forever.
The Oak Ridge Boys, as a group and to a man, found ourselves at one such crossroad in July of 1975. We were a struggling and starving bunch of boys who were not really sure of our talent or worth, and we were just about to give it all up and go home. All of a sudden, there he was, standing right smack in the middle of the road, smiling and pointing out the right way to go. That man was Jim Halsey and for 33 years now we have respectfully referred to him as our Godfather.

On this night in July of 1975 Jim Halsey heard us sing for the first time. He told us that he believed that we were the most entertaining and energetic act that he had ever seen and that we were just “Three minutes away” from being the biggest act in Country Music. Of course, he meant that we needed a hit record. After all these years, Jim’s famous “Three minutes away” speech has become a part of music business folklore.
Under his leadership and management, The Oak Ridge Boys did indeed become a household name, with a wall full of gold and platinum albums that are chock full of “three minute” miracles, for which we are all so very thankful.
We remain a hard working and popular act today because of the foundation that Jim helped us to build.
Jim Halsey has spent most of his life on the cutting edge of the music business. His booking agency, The Jim Halsey Company, Inc., out of Tulsa, Oklahoma once booked over half of the major acts in country music. I know that you are about to read a lot more about the Oaks and Jim in the pages that follow, but let me just provide for you, the reader, a slight recollection of milestones, a small collage of accomplishments that were simply unheard of B.H. (Before Halsey!):

1. Country music on “The Tonight Show” when Country wasn’t as mainstream as today. The Oaks alone have been on the show twenty seven times.
2. Country music acts on variety shows from every major television network.
3. Country music acts under Jim’s influence headlining all the major hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. (We still do it today!)
4. Roy Clark and The Oaks touring The Soviet Union.
5. Playing international festivals from Sweden to Switzerland and from Amsterdam to the Acropolis in Nice, France.
6. Headlining venues including Radio City Music Hall to Carnegie Hall and garnering major press for each performance.
7. Playing with big symphonies in major cities.
8. Shooting videos back when there was NO CABLE TV!!
9. Appearing at the famous Jim Halsey ranch parties in Tulsa where literally every fair buyer and concert hall booker in the world attended.
10. TV shows, concert halls, fairs, theaters. Jim could book us in all of them and make a huge, bigger-than-life event out of each and every one.
11. No idea too big. No problem that cannot be solved, no mountain that cannot be climbed.

This is Jim Halsey and, believe me, there is no one quite like him. But allow me just a few more words.
Jim Halsey is the most positive thinking man that I have ever known in my life. He is not only a man of knowledge and know how, but he is a man of God who puts his Family first.
He has always possessed in his soul certain ideals and values that come from years of studying the American Indian Way of Life, which teaches us to respect all of God’s Creatures and to possess a child-like love for this great land in which we live.
So you see, Jim Halsey is so much more than our manager. He is a spiritual advisor, a healer, a peacemaker, a leader and a teacher.
I have seen him dance on top of a record company president’s desk and I have seen him raise a family. I have seen him fight for what is fair and right and I have watched him light up and shine like an angel when he teaches his class.
Jim has never said, “Have a nice day.” He always says, “This is a great day.” It is always an “incredible week,” and you had better believe, that “this year is going to be the best year yet!!”, even “better than last year.”
What a joy to have this man as a friend and what an opportunity for a young student of the music business to read this book and to learn from the very best.
I am honored to have been asked to write a few words here about our Godfather and Impresario, Jim Halsey.
Readers, look real hard at the road ahead. I guarantee there will be a crossroad around the next bend. Listen. Pay attention. Through the words of this book you will find Jim Halsey standing there ready to point the way down the right road. Listen to him. Learn from him. He is the best of us.
– Joseph S. Bonsall, The Oak Ridge Boys
June, 2008

Joseph S. Bonsall is a thirty-four year member of The Oak Ridge Boys and author of the Molly The Cat book series published by Ideals Children’s Books, G.I. Joe and Lillie, An Inconvenient Christmas and An American Journey, published by New Leaf Press.