Country quintet Home Free ride viral appeal to a cappella country stardom.

Home Free’s Rob Lundquist says it was initially difficult to envision a Calypso-laden a capella reimagining of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” arguably one of the most well-known country tunes ever written. But somehow the group parlayed the dramatic, unrushed vocal parts, which juxtapose nicely with Adam Rupp’s slightly speedier, sun-soaked beatboxing. The result is a tasteful, colorful and entertaining rendition of the Man in Black’s timeless classic.

Since the Minnesota outfit posted the YouTube video of the tune in 2014, it’s racked up over 22 million views – all together, their YouTube videos, which also include takes on The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira,” Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” and Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” have reached nearly 185 million views. Not bad for a group that started out as an extracurricular hobby in 2000 and eventually made its way onto the State Fair circuit, calling themselves “the world’s first all-vocal country band.”

Everything changed for Home Free in 2013 after they won the fourth season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, which earned them a recording contract with Sony, $100,000 and – most importantly – acclaim.

Lundquist says one of the biggest changes since the win is the luxury of a cush touring buses that drives them from gig to gig and allows them to relax and catch some sleep.

“Also, now people coming to our shows are coming to see us,” he adds. “When we were playing fairs, a lot of times people had no idea who we were when we got up on stage.”

The group’s success is ongoing: Their recent release Timeless, featuring a unique spin on the traditional favorite “Man of Constant Sorrow,” was the second-highest debut on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart the week of its release.

They’re also leveraging their appeal to help the hurricane-ravaged Houston area recover. All proceeds from the sales and streams of its song “God Blessed Texas” are going to the Southeast Texas Food Bank and the Nederland Church of Christ Disaster Relief Fund.

HOME FREE 8pm Friday, Oct. 27. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $43-$65; $148/VIP. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com