By By Lisa Tindell- news editor
A native son will be returning to Brewton March 8 as the opening entertainment for The Brewton Music Festival.
The event, sponsored by the Quality of Life Committee, is one Chris Golden is looking forward to with much anticipation.
Golden, who plays drums for The Oak Ridge Boys, has a band of his own and will be the opening performer for the upcoming festival.
The junior Golden is the son of William Lee Golden, a singer with The Oak Ridge Boys, and is following in his father's musical footsteps.
Although his formative years were spent in Tennessee and on the road with his musical father, Golden says he makes a return to Brewton as often as possible.
The road has been kind to Golden having given him an opportunity to spread his wings and find his own place in the music industry.
His career has lead him in varying directions beginning with a stint playing piano for a group called the Telestials. The Southern Gospel group gave him his start and was followed by a tour with The Boys Band immediately following his graduation from high school.
In the years that followed, Golden played for different artists and sang on his own. That plan has worked out well for him giving him an opportunity to continue writing as well as performing the music he has grown to love.
Golden's second solo CD, “Down the Road,” was released in 2004. The collection of songs was recorded in hotel rooms, on stages and in dressing rooms, Golden said.
The Brewton Music Festival will be held at Burnt Corn Creek Park and will feature Golden's opening performance followed by co-headliners The Oak Ridge Boys and Robert Earle Keene. Grayson Capps will also perform with Hank Adam Locklin taking on the duties of master of ceremonies for the event.
Tickets for the event, which are $25 each, are on sale locally at The Cracked Pot and George's Barbecue. Tickets may also be purchased on-line through Ticket Master.
The event is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. in the downtown park with gates opening at 2 p.m.