Rusty Golden grew up in and around the music industry. When he was 7 years old his father William Lee moved the family (mother Frogene and brothers Craig and Chris) from Brewton, Alabama to Nashville, Tennessee so that he could pursue his career in music as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys. Within 6 years the ORB would be one of the most popular groups in gospel music. They would go on to cross over into the country and pop genres and sell in excess of 42 million records. In 2015 they were inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame as well as being members of the famous Grand Ole Opry.

By age 13 Rusty was out on the road playing drums behind another hugely popular gospel group called The Rambos (featuring legendary songwriter Dottie Rambo). It was around this time that he would go to a concert that would change the course of his life as a musician. On November 12, 1972 Rusty saw Elton John perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. The day after the show Rusty gave his drumsticks to his brother Chris and started teaching himself to play the piano. Within 6 years he would perform on a #1 album (Larry Gatlin's "Love is Just a Game"). In 1978 while in Los Angeles and in between playing a concert at the legendary Roxy Theater and taping The Tonight Show with Gatlin, Rusty started making plans to write and record his own songs. By age 20 he was recording at Quadraphonic Studios in Nashville for ABC Records. Although the project was never released, it gave Rusty the push to believe that he could have a career in the music business. While shopping his record in Cannes, France during MIDEM (a music business conference) Rusty was asked to seriously consider forming a group.

Upon returning to the USA and after a few meetings with some talented friends, THE BOYS BAND was formed. Within two years the group was recording their debut album for Elektra/Asylum Records at CARIBOU RANCH in Nederland, Colorado (other artists to record there were CHICAGO, ELTON JOHN, JOE WALSH, SUPERTRAMP, EARTH WIND & FIRE and many others). The album yielded a Top 40 single and the first music video for MTV produced in Nashville in 1982 but because of lack of record label enthusiasm, the group disbanded in 1984. It was around this time that Rusty received a gold record for his songwriting contributions on the Oak Ridge Boys album "Bobbie Sue". Rusty quickly began writing songs with another child of the gospel music industry. Marc Speer was a 3rd generation musician (his grandparents and parents founded the legendary SPEER FAMILY). In 1985 the group GOLDEN SPEER (which by now included brother Chris Golden on lead vocal) headed to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where they would record a project for CBS Records. It was produced by Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section alumni Roger Hawkins and David Hood. The label passed on the production team but did sign brothers Chris and Rusty as THE GOLDENS. They were paired with producer James Stroud and were signed to CBS/EPIC Records in 1986. After recording a full length album in Nashville and Los Angeles the label released 2 singles before leaving the album "on the shelf". Thankfully, because the group had built a loyal following it wasn't hard for the brothers to negotiate another major label record deal. This time with CAPITOL/SBK Records. An album titled "Rush For Gold" was released in 1990. With three radio singles, 3 music videos, lots of TV exposure and an extensive concert schedule, The Goldens were still barely a mid-level act in a high level business. Capitol Records dropped the group from its roster which by that time included an up and coming Garth Brooks.

Rusty decided to concentrate on his songwriting by signing with PolyGram Music ( he had enjoyed being a staff writer with Warner/Chappell and EMI in the 80's). He would go on to have songs recorded by country and pop stars even having his songs recorded in other languages. Also during this time he was working as a musician on tour and recording with various artists including Songwriting Hall of Fame member Jeffrey Steele whom he worked with for 9 years. Starting in 1994, and for 15 years afterward, Rusty promoted his own concerts in Gulf Shores, Alabama called SONGS ON THE BEACH. The shows were in cojunction with the legendary Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. 

Fast forward to October 5, 2002. After returning from performing at a private party for FORTUNE magazine at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, he decided to check himself into the hospital after "feeling something different going on inside my body". Within 3 days he would receive a quadruple heart bypass at St. Thomas hospital in Nashville.  While recuperating at his mothers home, Rusty started pondering his future and the past that got him where he was....or wasn't. He decided to write a gospel song. "Musically, it was a return to everything I grew up on". The song 'John in the Jordan' was a very successful #1 record and Rusty soon found that artists in that genre were wanting to hear more.  Gospel music impresario and pioneer Bill Gaither would be one of the major champions behind Rusty's songwriting career. Says Gaither "As one of the promising young writers in our field.  Rusty Golden undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him.  I'm very excited about his ideas and I believe the sky is the limit for him." In 2010 Rusty was hired by country rocker Tre' Michaels to produce his debut album. Rusty put together an all star rhythm section for the project including musicians from such iconic bands as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Whitesnake, Kid Rock, Tesla, Chicago and Elton John.   Rusty also spent the next few months writing songs. As of this writing, Rusty has had five #1 radio records, two of which were named "Song Of The Year" and nominated for GRAMMY Awards. He also took home the Songwriter Of The Year award. 

Since 2015 Rusty has released two critically acclaimed projects 'ANGELS' and  the "recovery" themed album called 'SOBER' which Billboard magazines Deborah Evans Price writes: ...."The most compelling music always comes from real life and Rusty Golden has long had a gift for distilling experience into insightful, poignant songs.  Sung with passion and conviction, these songs are among the best work this gifted singer/songwriter has ever delivered. Spend some time with this album. You'll be richer for the experience."  His latest 5 song EP 'CONFESSIONS' will be released in October 2018.