Jun 20, 2012
Is There Art In The Music Or Music In The Art?: An Interview With William Lee Golden
On May 3, 2012, legendary country and gospel artist, William Lee Golden, of the Oak Ridge Boys, paused a recording session to speak to Broken Records Magazine’s Cindy Vasko about his craft. With over thirty million album sales, 150 tour dates per year, a host of Grammy awards, inductions into the Grand Ole Opry and Gospel Music Hall of Fame, an upcoming performance at the CMA Fest on June 7-10, 2012, and an Oak Ridge Boys fall 2012 release Christmas album, one would think Golden had little time for anything else.
What might not be known to many is that Golden is also a prolific painter. His impressionism style acrylic paintings have been featured in galleries, museums and private collections across the United States, including the Tennessee State Museum, Gilcrease Museum of Art in Oklahoma, and the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas. Golden is also the first artist to be featured on the labels of Vietti canned goods and products. Golden noted, “I started painting about ten years ago. I always loved going to museums and galleries and have an appreciation of art. I take photographs, and I especially photograph landscapes, and think these would make great paintings.” He added, “I have always been inspired by music and art.”
Golden is appreciative of his many successes and said, “I love people and am so thankful to have the opportunity to sing, travel, record and I appreciate every memory, every new experience, every treasure. I am thankful for life, my family, the opportunity to sing with the Oak Ridge Boys and the opportunity to showcase my paintings. Life is good. I feel blessed and so honored.”
Written by Cindy Vasko
About the author
Justin is the magazine's editor-in-chief. His day to day activities entail sorting through hundreds of press releases to bring the readers the very stories they see on this site. In addition to setting up and editing stories, he writes, does photography and films interviews and performances for BRM.
Besides the magazine, Justin is very active in his local music scene running his local music blog, thesibandguy.blogspot.com as well as performing in his up and coming band Process of Fusion. (http://www.reverbnation.com/processoffusion).
Favorite BRM Moments:
Interviewing Sonny of P.O.D. at Uproar Fest, Interviewing Kel Mitchell of "Kenan & Kel," and setting up the Broken Records Music Festival starring Mac Lethal.
