You can’t help but smile the moment you hear that first baritone note of “Elvira,” performed by one of the most-recognizable voices in country music history: William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys. Golden is quickly recognized for his waist-length beard, but it’s the baritone voice that fans love. Golden came about his talents naturally. “I grew up on a cotton and peanut farm outside of Brewton, Ala., so I was always in God’s great outdoors working in the fields and singing as loud as I could.” What people may not realize is that Golden is a supporter of the Second Amendment and a big fan of the National Rifle Association. NRA Country’s Lisa Supernaugh recently asked the country icon a few questions about life outside of touring.
LS: What is one of your best outdoors memories?
WLG: My best outdoor memory is being on a bear hunt up in Canada sleeping under the stars by a campfire with one of my sons, Craig, and a good friend and outdoorsman, Robert Sutton. While sitting by the fire, the Northern Lights appeared in the sky. It was multi-colored, magical and surreal, but by the end of the week, the bear hunt turned into a beer hunt.
LS: Do you have a favorite personal firearm?
WLG: My old favorite is my Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum with a 10” nickel barrel. I enjoy the primitive feel of shooting a black powder rifle. My new favorites are my SIG Sauer P365 9 mm, my SIG Sauer P227 .45 Auto and my Remington 1911 R1 .45 Auto.
LS: In the last two years when you weren’t touring, how did you spend your time?
WLG: I stayed busy working on a few major projects. The Oak Ridge Boys released a new album, “Front Porch Singin,’’ and I wrote my autobiography with Scot England, Behind The Beard. I also recorded with my sons and grandkids (William Lee Golden and The Goldens). We went in the studio and created magic producing 34 songs on three albums. The first album we cut is of old gospel songs, we then continued to cut classic country songs and finished off the project with country rock featuring the Eagles song, “Take It Easy.”
Be sure to catch William Lee Golden out on the road as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys. You can find more information on him and The Oaks at williamleegolden.com or oakridgeboys.com.
NRA Country is a lifestyle and a bond between the country music community and hard-working Americans everywhere. It’s powered by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military and the responsibilities of protecting the great American life. Visit nracountry.com, follow us on Facebook facebook.com/nracountry, Twitter @NRACountry, and NRA_Country on Instagram.
