William Lee Golden

• Name — William Lee Golden • Birth Name — William Lee Golden • Born — 12 January 1939 • Origin — Brewton, Alabama, U.S. • Instrument — Vocals (baritone) • Genre — Country, gospel • Occupation — Singer, painter • Years Active — 1965–present • Label — MCA, Mercury • Current Member Of — The Oak Ridge Boys • Website — www.williamleegolden.com

Golden joined the Oak Ridge Boys (then a Southern gospel music group) in 1965. Golden is widely known for his waist-length beard and hair, and has become one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry. He was voted out of the Oak Ridge Boys in 1987, as the other three members wanted to change the band's image. Golden was replaced by Steve Sanders after releasing his own album as a solo artist titled American Vagabond, which included two chart singles. In 1990, he moved to Mercury Records and released "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway" as a single only. Sanders left the group in 1995, and Golden returned on New Year's Eve of the same year.

He has been married four times. Golden was married to Frogene Normand from 1957 to 1975. He married Luetta Callaway in 1984 and they divorced in 1987. He was married to Brenda Kaye Hall from 1990 to 2013. Golden married Simone De Staley in 2015. He has four sons, Rusty, Craig, Chris, and Solomon, a stepdaughter, and seven grandchildren. Golden's sons Rusty (who died in 2024) and Chris recorded as the Goldens for Epic Records and Capitol Records from 1988 to 1991. They also played in his band on his solo dates and on his albums.

• Illustration — Golden's likeness carved into the side of an oak tree on the edge of his property, which is visible from the road Golden's home is called the Golden Era Plantation. Built in 1786, it is recognized as the oldest brick home in Sumner County, Tennessee. The Federal-style structure was built in 1786, then called Pilot's Knob, on a military outpost by American Revolutionary War Captain James Franklin, the father of planter and slave trader Isaac Franklin (1789–1846). After the war, he was awarded a land grant to the property. During the Civil War, the plantation became a station camp for Confederate soldiers. To protect their valuable gold and silver from approaching Union soldiers, the occupants buried the metals in the ground surrounding the house. This gold was later discovered during renovation of the home in 1976. The area has been struck twice by tornadoes, once in 1892 and again on April 6, 2006. Originally a two-story building, the second story was removed by the first tornado. Repairs were made, leaving it as a single-story home. Following the second tornado, the home's architecture was restored, adding a second story. As of 2016 William Lee Golden still resided at Golden Era.

• Year — Album — US Country — Label • 1986 — American Vagabond — 53 — MCA • 2000 — My Life's Work — — — Audio Visual Arts III • 2010 — The Artist — — — self-released • 2022 — The Old Country Church — — — DAVA • 2022 — Country Roads — — — DAVA • 2022 — Southern Accents — — — DAVA

• Year — Single — Chart positions — Album • US Country — CAN Country • 1986 — "Love Is the Only Way Out" — 53 — 58 — American Vagabond • "You Can't Take It with You" — 72 — 52 • 1990 — "Keep Lookin' Up" — — — — — Non-album singles • "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway" — — — —

• Year — Single — Artist — US Country — Album • 1990 — "Tomorrow's World" — Various artists — 74 — Single only

• Year — Single • 1990 — "Keep Lookin' Up" • "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway"