Source: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117884911.html?categoryid=25&cs=1
Monday, April 21, 2003

Douglas `Noel' Fox

Bass singer with the Oak Ridge Boys, musi exec

Douglas ``Noel'' Fox, a former bass singer with the Oak Ridge Boys who went on to become an executive in the music publishing business, died April 10 in a Nashville hospital following surgery and a series of strokes. He was 63.

Columbia, Tenn. native sang with the group from 1967 to 1972. The Oak Ridge Boys formed as the Oak Ridge Quartet in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1943.

Specializing in country and gospel music, the group has won two Grammys.

Switching to the business end of the music industry, Fox worked as booking agent, talent manager and publisher. In 1978, he began managing the Oak Ridge Boys' publishing entity, Silverline/Goldline Music Inc. He later served as vice president of MCA Music/Nashville and president of Maypop Music Group, which was owned by members of Alabama.

Fox was an early champion of singer-songwriter Steve Earle, whom he signed to an early publishing deal.

Survivors include his wife, a son, two daughters and a stepson.

Donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the American Stroke Association.

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Extracted from The New York Times (New York, NY)
Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Noel Fox, 63; Sang With Oak Ridge Boys

Noel Fox, a former bass singer with the Oak Ridge Boys who became a power in the music business, died here on Thursday. He was 63.

He died after surgery following a series of strokes, his longtime band manager, Jim Halsey, said.

Mr. Fox was born and raised in Columbia, about 40 miles south of Nashville. He sang with the Oak Ridge Boys for five years before leaving in 1972 for a Nashville music business career that included booking, talent management and publishing.

In 1978 Mr. Fox began managing the Oak Ridge Boys' publishing entity, Silverline/Goldline Music Inc. He later served as vice president of MCA Music/Nashville and president of Maypop Music Group, which was owned by members of the group Alabama.

An early champion of the singer-songwriter Steve Earle, Mr. Fox signed him to a publishing deal and introduced him to Tony Brown, at that time producer for MCA Records. MCA subsequently signed Mr. Earle and released his 1986 debut hit ``Guitar Town.''

The Oak Ridge Boys began in Knoxville in 1943 as the Oak Ridge Quartet, singing country and gospel music. The group has won five Grammys, four in gospel and one in country.

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Source: http://www.thegospeljubilee.com/newsfiles/arc3-2003
Friday, April 11, 2003

Former Oak Ridge Boys Noel Fox passes away

Noel Fox was one of the Oak Ridge Boys' most beloved bass singers passed away April 10th, 2003. He had suffered a massive stroke several day earlier. Noel was with the Oak Ridge Boys from 1969-1972 while they were still full time in Southern Gospel Music. He sang on Oak hits such as, on such hits as ``Jesus Is Coming Soon'', ``I Know'', ``House of Gold'', and ``Wings of A Dove.''

Noel replaced Herman Harper when Herman decided he wanted to come off the road to be with his family. Before joining the Oaks Noel sang in the Tennesseans Quartet with Dale Shelnut. He joined the Harvesters Quartet in 1964.

Douglas Noel Fox was born October 31, 1939 in Columbia, Tennessee. He was the son of T.P. and Elizabeth Fox. Noel is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.