About Chris
“Music is my life, my gift, my love… and I feel like I would be turning my back on my calling if I didn’t keep doing this,”
Chris Golden is a Singer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Traveler, and Father. His history in the music industry is epic, spans multiple genres, and is rich in heritage. He has deep roots from his tenure on tour with Alabama, Restless Heart, and the Oak Ridge Boys, but his heart for serving the Lord has led him to where he is today. Chris’s ability to captivate an audience with an inspirational message has afforded him opportunities to perform for every living United States President and share from prestigious stages such as The Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry House, Dollywood, The Huckabee Show, Larry’s Country Diner, and The Holy Land (Israel).
In addition to his own endeavors and touring schedule, Chris is an award winning music producer and is highly decorated throughout various organizations with his most recent honor being ICMA’s 2019 Entertainer of the Year, 2020 Instrumentalist of the Year, and Producer of The Year.
Born into a rich musical legacy, Chris began his musical career almost as soon as he could walk. “From an early age I was surrounded by music on both sides of the family,” recalls Chris, “and it was something that came very natural and easy for me.” Chris never took any musical lessons and considers his ability to hear something a few times and then play it a “gift from God.” In elementary school, Chris was already learning to play the drums, piano, and guitar. While growing up in Tennessee, Chris spent summers on his grandparents farm in south Alabama, working in the fields and singing in church. During this time he developed an appreciation for family harmonies and a steadfast work ethic.
At 15, Chris began playing piano for a group called the Telestials, touring the Southern Gospel circuit. The week he graduated high school, he started touring with brother Rusty in The Boys Band; the group recorded an album for Elektra /Asylum and had a pop hit that stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. At 18 he joined the Canadian group Cedar Creek, which had Top 10 chart action on the Canadian country charts as well as the U.S. At 19 Chris stepped out from behind the drums and made his lead vocal debut on the hit TV show Hee Haw. In 1984 he teamed up again with brother Rusty and friend Marc Speer as Golden Speer and went to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record demos for CBS with veteran “super drummer” Roger Hawkins and bass man David Hood. Already a “road scholar” this is where Chris “got my master’s.” In 1987, the brothers began recording as The Goldens, charting with a couple of singles released on CBS/Epic and produced by James Stroud. In 1989, on Capitol/SBK Records, the Goldens released the album “Rush for Gold,” which racked up more chart singles and spawned three music videos, one of which Chris produced and directed. During this time he was constantly touring and continued to work as a session musician.
In 1995, he began performing with The Oak Ridge Boys playing “whatever’s left;” guitar, mandolin, harmonica and filling in on keyboards and drums. From 1997-2014 this multi-talented man, who also has charted songwriter credits, became the Oaks full-time drummer. He has been the voice of Heinz 57 as national radio spokesman “to support my music habit,” has played a variety of instruments on a multitude of recordings over the years, produced various projects for clients such as Polygram and EMI Records, and has also enjoyed a brief stint with country-rock legends The Flying Burrito Brothers. In 2000 Chris produced his father William Lee Golden’s CD Box Set My Life’s Work. Chris can also be heard on the Oak’s latest CD’s From The Heart, Inconvenient Christmas and The Journey, and LIVE.
In 2011, Chris stepped back in the spotlight as a television host, filming 13 episodes before a live audience for a web based series called Late Night Nashville with Chris Golden, and continues to host his annual Family and Friends concerts.
However it’s his recent solo work that best showcases Golden’s gifts. He has released seven critically acclaimed solo projects including CenterStage, which garnered rave reviews from Billboard magazine, and his first gospel offering Sunday Shoes which was named Power Source Magazine’s ‘Album of the Month.’ Next came Shoebox , released in the Fall of 2013 with the title video in rotation on ZUUS Country Network featured as ‘Breakout Artist of the Week” and appearing in the TOP 10 Countdown.
In 2015, Chris garnered his first number one song in CASHBOX Magazine with ‘A Different Light’ and was named 2016 ‘Crossover Artist of the Year” by both Christian Voice Magazine and the ICGMA. 2017 brought another #1 with On The Sunny Banks, ‘Entertainer of the Year’ from the ICGMA and a new album, Less of Me. Filling In on drums with supergroup Alabama performing for every living US President. 2018, Chris found himself on the charts once again with Less of Me claiming the top spot on three different charts, appearances on TBN’s Huckabee Show, The Opry House, Dollywood, and a tour in Israel. Three singles and videos from the latest album Grateful all landed at the number one spot, garnered Song of the Year, 3 ‘Video of the Year’ awards. During the pandemic, Chris stayed busy in the recording studio producing several other artists who are having chart success earning him ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ and ‘Producer of the Year’.
In 2020, he once again went back in the studio with father William Lee, his brothers, and three children and longtime friends and recorded 35 songs as William Lee Golden & The Goldens which the first single ‘Come & Dine’ has already made it to Number One 3 weeks in a row on the CDX charts. Three albums are slated for release in 2022.
Despite all of Chris’s success, he understands who he serves. In 2010, he was told by someone (who was undeniably heaven sent) to, “Play for the One who gave you the gift.” By doing so, he seeks to help others forget about the world for 75 minutes, worship, and take away a good dose of hope, love, and light. THE LIGHT. When not out blessing others, Chris enjoys photography and spending time with his beloved Marie, and his three children, Elizabeth, Rebekah, and Elijah, whom he deems his greatest treasures.
