Rusty Golden

Rusty Golden (January 3, 1959- July 1, 2024)

Biography

William Lee "Rusty" Golden, Jr. was a songwriter, performer, and music publisher. He was the son of long-time Oak Ridge Boys baritone William Lee Golden. Growing up with a musical father, he began playing drums at the age of 12 and performed with the Rambos at the age of 13. He then began focusing on piano and began playing professionally for Larry Gatlin at the age of 17. He also began writing songs as a young teenager.

In 1985, Rusty, his brother Chris, and Marc Speer formed Golden Speer. After the departure of Speer, Rusty and Chris performed as The Goldens. He began focusing on writing gospel songs during the 2000s and 2010s and had several hits co-written with acclaimed Southern Gospel writer Dianne Wilkinson. During the 2020 Covid pandemic, Rusty, Chris, their father William Lee, and several other family members recorded three albums of gospel, country, and pop music standards. After the pandemic, the began touring between Oak Ridge Boys dates billed as William Lee Golden & The Goldens.

He owned a music publishing company called Rusty Golden Music.

Songwriter's Résumé

(Partial List)

Biblically Correct
Family Ties
Gospel Road
Grand Ole Highway
It Should Have Rained
John In The Jordan
Take It To The Cross
What Salvation's Done For Me