For a select few individuals, making music seems as natural as breathing. Chris Golden is one of those gifted souls. A skilled multi-instrumentalist and intuitive songwriter with a voice like warm honey, Golden’s passion for music shines on every track of his latest project, “CenterStage.†The 17-song disc is a rich musical tapestry with Golden’s distinctive voice serving as the thread that weaves together a potent collection of songs about love and loss, trials and triumphs. From the plaintive ache of “Love Won’t Let Me†to the buoyant anthem “You Oughta’ Know Love By Now,†Golden serves up songs that reflect the human condition. On “The Best I Can,†he sings: “I ain’t hiding nothin’/ What you see is what you get/I’ve made my share of bad choices/ That I’d rather just forget/ I might not ever be a hero/I’m just an ordinary man but I will give you the best I can.†Each song on “CenterStage†resonates with emotional honesty and a sense of integrity that have always been at the core of Golden’s artistry. It’s obvious he has an ear for great songs, whether penning them himself or pulling from the cream of the Nashville songwriting community. “It’s the culmination of everything that I’ve learned through the years. I always try to pick great songs,†Golden says of his latest offering. “They have to really resonate with me. It has to be a song that I wished I would have written.†“CenterStage†finds Golden serving up such gems as Mac MacAnally’s “Opinion on Love†and Fred Knobloch’s poignant “Three Verses.†“I’ve always loved that one,†says Golden. “I’ve been doing that song live for a long time.†Golden’s versatility is evident in his choice of cover tunes from Karla Bonoff’s breezy pop classic “Isn’t It Always Love†to his fresh take on Tennessee Ernie Ford’s signature tune “Sixteen Tons.†“I wanted to do one by the old Pea Picker,†he says referencing Ford’s nickname. “I started doing that song live and wound up really liking the different arrangement, so I decided to include it here.†The CD opens with “Keep the Faith,†which Golden admits is the most autobiographical track on the project. “That’s pretty much my family story. I’m on the road a lot and that’s my kids’ song. They know it’s for them,†says the happily married father of three. “That one always hit home with me because I do spend a lot of time on the road and have someone waiting at home.†Traveling and playing music has always been a part of Golden’s life. A self-described “backstage baby,†Golden grew up surrounded by music. His father is William Lee Golden of the legendary Oak Ridge Boys. Chris knew early on that he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. He learned to play drums, piano and guitar while still in elementary school. At 15, he became immersed in the Southern Gospel music world, playing piano for the Telestials. As with most ambitious young musicians, he spent his teens and early 20s honing his skills in different bands, immersing himself in an array of musical styles that helped forge his musical personality. Joining his brother Rusty in The Boys Band, the group scored a pop hit with its Elektra/Asylum debut. He signed on with the popular Canadian band Cedar Creek for a successful stint, and later teamed again with Rusty and their friend Marc Speer to form Golden Speer, a group whose edgy sound and innovative look helped broaden the scope of Nashville’s music scene. “Music always came easy to me,†says Golden. “Music spoke to me from a young age. I had already learned a lot of songs by the time I was 10, and a lot of that was because my brother was doing it. I wanted to be like my oldest brother, Rusty. I really did try to emulate him a lot and I thought ‘Well if he can do it, I can do it.’ We grew up in a musical home. I was always blessed to be around a lot of great musicians and singers. Some went on to make it. Some never claimed their fame, and those are probably among my greatest influences.†Music and family have always been intertwined for Golden. He and his brother Rusty had a successful run on the country charts as The Goldens, touring relentlessly and placing several videos on CMT/GAC, including a clip Chris produced and directed. He’s also worked with the Oak Ridge Boys, touring for a number of years in their band. As a producer, he helmed his father’s critically acclaimed box set, “My Life’s Work.†He’s also contributed to several of the Oaks recent Spring Hill Records CDs, “From the Heart,†“An Inconvenient Christmas†and “The Journey. However, it’s his recent solo work that best showcases Golden’s gifts. In 2004, he released “Down the Road,†a solid collection that was recorded in hotel rooms, on stages and in dressing rooms across the country while Golden was on tour. “It really is what makes me the happiest,†he says of performing. “That’s when I’m at peace and I’m having more fun when I’m on stage singing. I feel like I’m making a difference, that I matter.†Working with noted producer Michael Sykes (The Oak Ridge Boys, Gaither Vocal Band), Golden’s new project, “CenterStage,†is a powerful collection of country songs that celebrate faith, family and the things that matter most. Golden’s reputation helped him score songs from some of Music Row’s top songwriters, among them Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Tomberlin, Dennis Matkosky, Keith Stegall, and Fred Knobloch. Among the album’s highlights is “Terminal of Life,†a thoughtful look at the stories that unfold as people come and go in an airport terminal. The lyrics says: “They’re all just passing through/Every emotion under one roof/It’s all the good the bad, the happy the sad and it’s all rolled into/It’s either hello or goodbye, so glad to see you or please don’t cry/ There’ll always be a story before the next flight in the terminal of life.†One of the songs getting the most response from audiences is “I Believe in Angels.†“People remember that song more than any other song on the album,†says Golden. “I think it’s one of those kind of songs that could cross the board and be on some of the Christian stations as well as country radio." “CenterStage†spotlights an artist at the peak of his creative intensity. Chris Golden has an ear for great songs and a compelling voice that brings them to life. He has that unique ability to totally inhabit a lyric, interpreting life in his songs in such a way that they seep into your soul. “I feel like I have been given a gift, and I would be turning my back on my calling if I didn’t do this,†he says. “I just love and live to entertain.†written by: Deborah Evans Price
