Rusty Golden, son of William Lee Golden, has passed away. Rusy was 65 when he died on July 1 at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

“This is the hardest thing ever for a father to have to face,” The Oak Ridge Boys‘ member William Lee says. “I love my family more than anything. Rusty was a great musician, a talented songwriter, and a wonderful son. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for the days ahead. I love you, son.”

Rusty was born on January 3, 1959 in Brewton, Alabama. The eldest son of William Lee and his first wife, Frogene, Rusty was named William Lee Golden, Jr., after his father, but called Rusty since he was a baby. Like his father, music ran in his blood, which he began pursuing while still a child. At the age of 12, he began performing, and one year later, Rusty began playing with the popular Southern gospel group, The Rambos.

A wordsmith who enjoyed writing songs, Rusty was forever inspired by attending an Elton John concert in 1972, turning his focus to piano. He toured with Larry Gatlin, and played on numerous recordings, including Gatlin’s “Love Is Just A Game,” Marty Stuart’s “Pilgrim” and more.

Rusty helped form The Boys Band, with the song, “Runner,” from the group’s debut album, in 1982 becoming the first MTV video that was produced in Nashville. Rusty remained with The Boys Band until it disbanded in 1984.

That same year, Rusty received an RIAA Gold record for writing “Back In Your Arms Again” and “Until You” from  The Oak Ridge Boys’ 1982 Bobbie Sue album.

One year later, Rusty joined Marc Speer in founding the group Golden Speer, which also included Rusty’s brother Chris Golden. A record was never released, but Rusty and Chris decided to continue to record together, moving to Capitol/SBK Records to release Rush for Gold in 1980.

After a life-altering quadruple bypass surgery, Rusy returned to his gospel roots, earning several chart-toppping singles in Southern Gospel, and two Song of the Year awards, for The Booth Brothers’ “What Salvation’s Done for me” and Karen Peck & New River’s “I Want to Thank you.”

In March of 2020, Rusty and Chris joined their father in creating William Lee Golden and The Goldens, fulfilling a longstanding dream the family patriarch held for decades. The group recorded 34 songs as part of their Golden Classics collection

“Going into the studio with my boys was a dream come true,” Golden said of recording Golden Classics, when he project was released. ”At times, I wondered if it was ever going to happen. Now, after nearly two years since starting this project and what turned into a three-volume set will finally be available for the world to hear.”

Rusty was awarded the Keyboard Player of the Year at the Josie Music Awards in 2023. In addiiton to his father, he is survived by brothers Chris, Craig and Solomon, plus numerous nieces, nephews and other family members and close friends.

“Until the Lord calls me away from this world to the next, I want to make it clear that I believe in Jesus Christ as the true Lord and Savior,” Rusty once said. “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, was sacrificed on the cross, died for our sins, and rose again. HE loves us.”

Funeral services are pending, and will be announced on the William Lee Golden and The Goldens’ website and Facebook page.

Everything Nash extends our deepest condolences to Rusty’s family.