William Lee Golden's story begins long before the gold records, "Elvira" or the beard that became one of the most recognizable sights in country music. The Oak Ridge Boys baritone takes Frank Gerard back to the family farm near Brewton, Alabama, where he listened to the Grand Ole Opry on a battery-powered radio and learned his first guitar chords from his older sister, Lanette.
William Lee remembers deciding that he belonged in the Oak Ridge Boys, joining the group in 1965 and helping shape the classic harmony that carried the Oaks from gospel music to country stardom. He shares stories about Duane Allen, Richard Sterban, Elvis Presley and the records that changed everything, including "Elvira," "Trying to Love Two Women" and "Thank God for Kids."
The conversation also reaches beyond the stage. William Lee talks about family recordings made during the pandemic, his photography and painting, the loss of his son Rusty, and why his belief that music can heal comes from experience.
In this episode
The Alabama farm and battery radio where the music began
How William Lee found his place in the Oak Ridge Boys
The unusual connection between the Oaks and Elvis Presley's band
The stories behind several of the group's biggest songs
Recording 34 songs with his family during the pandemic
Family, grief and the healing power of music
Painting, photography and a lifetime of noticing the world around him
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