Spring Hill Music recording artists The Oak Ridge Boys were honored this month with the Living Legend Award at the International Entertainment Buyers Association Convention.

The award was presented in recognition of the group's contributions to the entertainment industry. The foursome's career from their early days as a gospel quartet to their first break into country and pop music in the early '70s-as well as the new music they are recording today-also was chronicled.

Former U.S. President George Bush presented a special congratulatory message taped prior to the evening's events. Highlights of the group's career were captured in a six-minute video, which included clips of the group's appearances on The Tonight Show, the Country Music Association Awards and the Johnny Cash television series.

The Oak Ridge Boys originated in 1943 when the group performed country and gospel music in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and were known as The Oak Ridge Quartet. They began regular Grand Ole Opry appearances in the fall of 1945, and by the mid-1950s, they were featured in TIME magazine as one of the top gospel groups in the nation.

The group's new Christmas album, Christmas Cookies, released Oct. 11, coinciding with its Christmas Cookies tour. A one-hour television special, taped in conjunction with Feed the Children, will air from mid-November until January on a number of stations.

More information is available at www.oakridgeboys.com .

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