Chris Golden brings tales of faith, family to Eldorado

Chris Golden returns to Southern Illinois 8:30 p.m. Saturday to end Eldorado Town & Country Days with songs of faith and family backed up by a band of Nashville, Tenn., greats.

Wearing his signature Homberg hat and two-tone shoes, Golden said Eldorado can expect heartfelt country music, some gospel and maybe a little Oak Ridge Boys.

The Homberg hat is not quite a bowler and not quite a cowboy hat. It may be most accurately described as the headpiece of a country gentleman.

"I knew I wasn't a cowboy hat type of guy and was trying on some different hats out until I found one I liked. I've had a few custom-made since then. It's kind of the older style," Golden said.

"I will have on my two-tone shoes - my Sunday shoes - but I'm going to be wearing them on a Saturday."

An older style fits Golden's preference in music as much as his fashion. His music comes from a tradition of family and joy within the home. Son of Oak Ridge Boy member William Golden - the bearded one - Golden says musical roots run deep. Golden's great-grandfather was a preacher and with his brother ran a radio program that involved singing and fiddle music. That talent has trickled down through the generations to Golden's own children.

"All three of my children are immensely talented. All play, all sing and all act," Golden said.

His daughter, Elizabeth, 17, a fiddle player, is a veteran of Golden's performances. She has a CD of her own and a music video covering Sting's "Field of Gold" was chosen as The Country Network's "Breakout Song of the Week." His daughter Rebecca, 13, is an actress and piano player and son, Elijah, 11, has recorded his own recording.

His wife, Kimberly, cheers the younger and older generation on.

The family lives in Hendersonville, Tenn., about 20 miles north of Nashville, Tenn., which in Golden's boyhood was a quiet town of about 3,000.

"Hendersonville was a bedroom community of Nashville built around Old Hickory Lake. There were about 3,000 people and of that about 1,000 were musicians," Golden said.

Nashville provided the work. Hendersonville provided the home and family life. Among it's residents were Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Marty Stuart and Ricky Skaggs. Since the early days Hendersonville has grown to 50,000 to 60,000 people and brought up a new generation a country music stars. Taylor Swift attended Hendersonville High School and maintains a home there.

"You never know who you will see at the grocery or post office," Golden wrote in an e-mail.

Golden's true hometown is Brewton, Ala., , about a 45 minute drive north of Pensacola, Fla., where his mother remains.

Golden describes Hendersonville, Tenn., as a fairly quiet town. If people want public music performance they can always take a trip to Nashville where something is always happening. But in Hendersonville, performance is more likely to be by invitation only.

"Between me and my three kids there is always a concert going. You're likely to see a concert every night of the week in my house," Golden said.

Regarding a question of family bands and whether talent is passed down or curated at an early age, Golden did not have an answer, only that musicianship has always seemed to come easily to members of both his father's and mother's side.

"For myself, it was something that came very easy for me," Golden said.

He said about every instrument he picked up he learned to play. His main instruments have been guitar, drums, piano and mandolin. He never learned fiddle that well, but was surprised when his daughter, Elizabeth, picked it up effortlessly - no screeching at all.

"She found her voice very early on with the instrument," Golden said.

"I think it was something that came very naturally to her."

Music came naturally to Golden's brother, Rusty, and the two performed as the due "The Goldens," releasing records on Columbia and Capital Records. In fact, the reunion of those two is happening. They intend to release a solo record for Rusty.

"We're going to be working together again in a few weeks. We'll be going into the studio for the first time in a couple years," Golden said.

Recently, Golden has concentrated on solo performances with his children helping out. He has been concentrating on gospel music at churches in the area. For Eldorado's Town & Country Days he has enlisted what he describes as a band of Nashville's finest.

Golden learned to play drums from Buster Phillips who has 27 Gold or Platinum records under his belt.

Tim Atwood, who has performed for 35 years on the staff of the Grand Ole Opry will be playing piano.

Jason Chance will be lead guitarist. He is the grandson of "Lightning" Chance and son of Barry Chance and is a third generation of noted guitarists.

Randy Smith will be playing bass and vocals. Smith is a veteran performer with jazz great Larry Carlton.

The musical group is not embarking on a national tour; it is assembled specifically for Eldorado Town & Country Days.

"I've known all these guys on stage a long time," Golden said.

Buster Phillips played eight years with The Goldens and Golden credits him with teaching him how to play drums for the Oak Ridge Boys.

"He was a big influence on me as a drummer. I was using the guy who inspired me and taught me to play," Golden said.

For 17 years Golden played various instruments for the Oak Ridge Boys, starting with acoustic guitar and moving on to piano and drums.

"I always told people it was the best seat in the house," he said.

He says he is well-familiar with Southern Illinois, especially Metropolis, playing Harrah's riverboat. He believes it will be his first time playing in Eldorado and is happy to be performing as Chris Golden and sharing his own songs.

"I say, 'God likes me when I'm working and loves me when I sing,'" Golden said.

For those curious about the kind of performance they can expect Saturday, Golden invites them to pull up the video for his song "Shoebox" on the Internet at the address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F7S4dW3Tdo