Review by Deborah Evans Price For a select few individuals, making music seems as natural as breathing. Chris Golden is one of those gifted souls. A skilled multi-instrumentalist and intuitive songwriter with a voice like warm honey, Golden’s passion for music shines on every track of his latest project, “CenterStage” The 17 - song disc is a rich musical tapestry with Golden’s distinctive voice serving as the thread that waves together a potent collection of songs about love and loss, trials and triumphs. From the plaintive ache of “Love Won’t Let Me” to the buoyant anthem “You Oughta Know Love,” Golden serves up songs thatreflect the human condition. On “The Best I Can,” he sings: “I ain’t hidin’ nothin’/What you see is what you get/I’ve made my share of bad choices/That I’d rather just forget/I might not ever be a hero/I’m just an ordinary man/But I will give you the best I can.” Each song on “CenterStage” resonates with emotional honesty and a sense of integrity that have always been at the core of Golden’s artistry. It’s obvious he has an ear for great songs, whether penning them himself, or pulling from the cream of the Nashville songwriting community. “This is the culmination of everything that I’ve learned through the years. I always try to pick great songs,” Golden says of his latest offering. “They really have to resonate with me. It has to be a song that I wished I would have written.” “CenterStage” finds Golden serving up such gems as Mac MacAnally’s “Opinion On Love” and Fred Knobloch’s poignant “Three Verses.” “I’ve always loved that one,” says Golden. “I have been doing that song live for a long time.”! The CD opens with “Keep The Faith” which Golden admits is the most autobiographical track on the project. He sings ‘This ol’ highway is a rough and rocky way to make a living/And it takes me far away from your sweet loving/But it’s the only life I know.” “ That’s pretty much my family story. I’m on the road a lot and that’s my kids song. They know I sing it for them,” says the happily married father of three. “That one always hits home for me because I do spend so much time touring and have someone waiting at home.” Traveling and playing music has always been a part of Golden’s life. A self-described “backstage baby,” Golden grew up surrounded by music. His father is William Lee Golden of the legendary Oak Ridge Boys. Chris knew early on that he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. He taughhimself to play drums, piano, and guitar while still in elementary school. At 15, he became immersed in the Southern Gospel music world, playing piano for the Telestials. As with most ambitious musicians, he spent his teens and early 20’s honing his skills in different bands, immersing him- self in an array of musical styles that helped forge his musical personality. Joining his brother Rusty in the Boys Band, the group scored a pop hit with its Elektra/Asylum debut. He signed on with the popular Canadian band Cedar Creek for a successful stint, and later teamed again with Rusty and their friend Marc Speer to form Golden Speer, a group whose edgy sound and innovative look helped broaden the scope of Nashville’s music scene. “Music always came easy for me,” says Golden, “...and it spoke to me from a young age. I had already learned a lot of songs on different instruments by the time I was 10, and some of that was because my oldest brother Rusty was doing it. I wanted to be like him and did my best to emulate him. We grew up in a musical home and was blessed to be brought up around a lot of great musicians and singers. Some went on to make it. Some never claimed their fame, and those are probably among my greatest influences. Music and family have always been intertwined for Golden. He and brother Rusty had a successful run on the country charts as The Goldens, touring relentlessly and placing several videos on CMT/GAC, in- cluding a clip Chris produced and directed. He’s also worked with the Oak Ridge Boys, touring for a number of years in their band, as well as contributing to several of the Oaks recent Spring Hill Records CDs, “From The Heart”, “Inconvenient Christmas”,“The Journey”, and “Common Thread.” As a pro- ducer, he helmed his father’s critically acclaimed box set, “My Life’s Work.” However, it’s his recent solo work that best showcases Golden’s gifts. In 2004, he released “Down The Road,” a solid collection that was recorded in hotel rooms, on stages, and in dressing rooms across the country while Golden was on tour. “It really is what makes me the happiest,” he says of performing. “That is when I’m at peace and I’m having more fun...when I’m on stage singing. I feel like I am Making a differ- ence, that I matter.” Working with noted producer Michael Sykes (The Oak Ridge Boys, Gaither Vocal Band), Golden’s new project, “CenterStage,” is a powerful collection of country songs that celebrate faith, family, and the things that matter most. Golden’s reputation helped him score songs from some of Music Row’s top song- writers, among them Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Tomber- lin, Keith Stegall, Dennis Matkosky, Jimbeau Hinson, and Fred Knobloch. Among the album’s highlights is “Terminal Of Life,” a thoughtful look at the stories that unfold as people come and go in an airport terminal. The lyrics say: “They’re all just passing through/Every emotion under one roof/It’s all the good the bad, the happy the sad, and it’s all rolled into/It’s either hello or goodbye/So glad to see you or please don’t cry/There’ll always be a story before the next flight in the terminal of life.” One of the songs getting the most response from audiences is “I Believe In Angels.” “People seem to remember that song more than any other song on the album,” says Golden. “I think it is one of those songs that could cross the board and be on some of the Christian stations, as well as country radio.” “CenterStage” spotlights an artist at the peak of his creative intensity. Chris Golden has an ear for great songs and a compelling voice that brings them to life. He has that unique ability to totally inhabit a lyric, interpreting life in his songs in such a way that they seep into your soul. “I feel like I have been given a gift, and I would be turning my back on my calling if I didn’t do this,” he says. “I love and live to entertain.” www.chrisgolden.net / chrisgoldenmusic@aol.com / www.myspace.com/chrisgoldenmusic