Golden ticket

Dec. 27—Oak Ridge Boys singer William Lee Golden and family to appear at Ro-Na

William Lee Golden, best known as the baritone with The Oak Ridge Boys and for his long, flowing beard, will be making a live appearance at Ironton's Ro-Na Cultural Center on Feb. 22

The Oak Ridge Boys started as the Oak Ridge Quartet in 1943, but changed Gospel band name in the early Sixties. In the Seventies, the band switched to a country sound and gained a huge following in the 1980s and scored hits such as "Elvira," "American Made," and "Bobbie Sue."

The 84-year-old beard has had a long career in music. He joined the The Oak Ridge Boys in 1965 and was kicked out in 1987, when the band wanted to change its image. He rejoined in 1995.

Golden has released three solo albums, "American Vagabond" in 1986, "My Life's Work" in 2000 and "The Artist" in 2010.

Golden will by backed by the band, The Goldens, which is made up of two of his sons, Rusty and Chris, who released their self-titled album in 1987 and had a couple of hits before they went onto long solo careers, which included Chris drumming for the Oak Ridge Boys for 18 years.

As William Lee Golden and The Goldens, they released "Golden Classics" which is a three-album set in three genres, the gospel-tinged "Old Country Church," country classics "Country Accents" and the rock and roll-themed "Southern Accents." The recording band includes William Lee, Rusty, son Craig, Chris, and three of Chris's children, Elizabeth, Rebekah and Elijah, and bass player Aaron McCune. They have released four other albums include "Take It Easy," "Jambalaya," "Four Walls" and "Come and Dine."

Among the accolades William Lee Golden has garnered in his long career are being a member of the Grand Ole Opry, being nominated for 23 Grammy awards and winning five, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, getting a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Entertainer of the Year Award from the Cherokee Indian Association. He has also won four CMAs, four Academy of Country Music awards and was named the ACM's Pioneer Award in 2008, won an American Music Award and 10 Dove Awards.

The show is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available at itickets.com and are $49 for general admission and $59 for premium tickets.