Marshall Freeman, 82; Member of First Oak Ridge Boys
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Marshall Lon “Deacon” Freeman, 82, the last surviving member of the Oak Ridge Quartet, which later became the gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, died Wednesday in Rocky Face, Ga. The cause of death was not reported.
Born in Berryton, Ga., Freeman began singing in a Baptist church as a child. After serving in the Army Air Force during World War II, he joined the Georgia Clodhoppers as a singer and rhythm guitar player.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Aug. 7, 2003 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday August 07, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 42 words Type of Material: Correction
Freeman obituary -- An obituary of Marshall Freeman in Saturday’s California section stated that he had served in the Army Air Force during World War II. The correct name of that branch of the service at that time was Army Air Forces.
The group was renamed the Oak Ridge Quartet and appeared often on the Grand Ole Opry.
Freeman left the group in 1949 because the constant travel kept him away from his family. He took a job broadcasting at a radio station in Rome, Ga.
The Oak Ridge Boys were inducted into the Gospel Music Assn.’s Gospel Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2000. Freeman was honored with the group’s current members.
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