About Us
Band
Don Carr (lead guitar) Born in Wayne, MI, and raised in Henderson, KY, Don is the only member of his family who has musical talent. He began singing as a toddler, even before he had mastered talking. Picking up a discarded guitar, Don took lessons at the YMCA. He practiced at home by listening to records and learning to imitate the guitar licks. Beginning at age 15, Don played guitar in a club band, later joining a rock band whose members wrote and recorded their own material. The group won grand prize in a radio station-sponsored contest, and Don was hooked on the music business! Attending North Texas State in Denton and Belmont College in Nashville, he pursued music majors. It was while studying at Belmont that he began making friends in the country music industry, eventually leading to his first major road job, playing with David Slater. Later Don traveled with Shelly West, Earl Thomas Conley, and Marie Osmond. He joined The Oaks Band in 1991 to play lead guitar, however studying drums in high school and college informed his guitar style with rhythmic precision.
Chris Golden (drums and percussion) A second generation of the Oaks’ organization, Chris Golden was two in 1964 when his father William Lee joined The Oak Ridge Boys. In elementary school, Chris was already learning to play multiple instruments despite never having music lessons, and while still in high school, started working the Southern Gospel circuit as a piano player. By the time he graduated, he began touring with The Boys Band, a pop music act that recorded an album for Elektra/Asylum. Around this time Chris started singing. Within a year he was performing solo, making his lead vocal and acting debut on the hit TV show Hee Haw with a song he wrote. He also appeared on the country charts numerous times in a couple of incarnations—first with Canadian band Cedar Creek, and later with brother Rusty in the duo The Goldens, which recorded albums for both Epic and Capitol Records. Chris also produced and directed one of their music videos. The brothers racked up several chart singles. In 1995, Chris stepped into the Oaks organization—initially as a journeyman musician, playing guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, and drums, depending on the setting. In 1997, this multi-talented man, who also has charted songwriting credits, became the band’s full-time drummer. He has been the voice of Heinz 57 as national radio spokesman and enjoyed a brief stint with country-rock legends the Flying Burrito Brothers. Chris enjoys studio work and producing various acts. In 2000, he produced William Lee Golden’s CD box set, My Life’s Work, and he can also be heard on several of the Oaks’ CDs. Along the way, Chris has fashioned five critically-acclaimed solo projects grounded primarily in country, including CenterStage, which garnered rave reviews from Billboard magazine, and a full circle return to his roots with his latest Gospel offering. Sunday Shoes, which was named Power Source Magazine’s “Album of the Month.” In 2011, Chris stepped back in the spotlight as a television host, filming thirteen episodes before a live audience for a web based series called Late Night Nashville with Chris Golden and continues to host his annual Family and Friends concerts. In 2012, he produced his daughter Elizabeth’s debut album and video, which garnered nationwide attention as “Breakout Song of the Month”on The Country Network. His latest solo album and video entitled Shoebox is slated for release in early spring of 2013. He and his wife, Kimberly, their daughters, Elizabeth and Rebekah, and their son, Elijah, live near Nashville. To learn more about Chris, logon to www.chrisgolden.net.
Jeff Douglas (guitar and dobro) Jeff Douglas was born and raised in Kentucky, spending most of his early years in the small town of Paris. An only child, his dad worked for the Post Office and his mom worked for the local school system. Wh ile attending the University of Kentucky, Jeff began working at a music store repairing and building guitars. It was in the local music scene that he met longtime friend, Paul Martin. Through this friendship he met the Oaks. In 1995, Jeff moved to the Nashville area to take a job as the ORB Band Tech. He was later promoted to Stage Manager. Jeff has played the guitar since he was sixteen and in 1999, when the Oaks needed a bit of extra “fill” in the show, he started playing three or four songs on rhythm guitar. However, he played offstage while also attending to his production work! In 2004, the Oaks released their Bluegrass-flavored The Journey CD. Jeff immediately bought a dobro and learned to play it so he could contribute to an additional four or five songs on the show. However, when playing the dobro he walks onstage—no longer a ghost player! In his spare time Jeff enjoys woodworking, tennis, photography, and recording. He is single and has no children.
Rex Wiseman (fiddle, pedal steel, guitar, mandolin) Rex Wiseman is the newest member of the Oaks Band, joining in 2006. Born and raised in Birdseye, Indiana, Rex grew up in a musical family. His father, four brothers, and sister were “back porch” pickers, playing mostly for their own enjoyment. Rex, who was the youngest, learned to play the mandolin at age five. Eventually he taught himself to play fiddle, guitar, pedal steel, electric bass, dobro, banjo, and mandolin. At the ripe old age of 11, Rex became a “professional,” earning money by playing in a local Country band with his brother. When he was 16, he put together his own band. Then in 1980, he moved to Nashville to work with Little David Wilkins. He subsequently worked with John Conlee, Bill Anderson, Rhonda Vincent, Billy Yates, Phillip Claypool, and Clay Walker. Rex’s early dream was for a solo record deal. His timing was less than perfect, however, because Contemporary Country was in vogue in the early eighties, and he played and sang traditional style. He finally gave up on solo aspirations in May 1985, two months before Randy Travis became an “overnight” sensation! Timing is everything! Rex has persevered through the turns his life has taken. Losing his mom at an early age, he learned the value of family and the importance of every moment. He has two daughters, Mary Jo and Kady, as well as three granddaughters. Rex, his wife Kim, and daughter Kady live in the Nashville area. In addition to music, another one of Rex’s lifelong passions has been horses and horse training.
Ron Fairchild (keyboards) Born in 1958 and raised in Music City, Ron has an “Oak Ridge” heritage. His father, Tommy, played piano for The Oak Ridge Boys from 1957 until 1972! Ron has a 20+ year personal history with the group. With his knack for playing any instrument you can put in front of him and an uncanny technical mind, Ron has literally built his musical career piece by piece. He engineered the digital keyboard system he plays on stage and has built his own recording studio. When not on the road or overseeing his studio, Ron enjoys sailing, learning to fly airplanes, and playing with his HAM radio and computers. He also loves watching hockey games.
Scotty Simpson (bass guitar) The newest member of The Oaks Band, Scotty Simpson was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He began playing guitar at age eleven and within a few years had formed a band with his older brother, Steve. It quickly became apparent there was a problem; everyone wanted to play lead so there was no bass player. Scotty decided to give bass a shot, and the love affair began. He spent every waking hour sitting in front of the stereo, moving a record needle back again and again, until he learned every lick on every album he had. By the time he was fourteen he was playing in clubs. Luckily, his brother, who was ten years older, made for the perfect guardian, so Scotty’s parents allowed him to do so. A week after he got out of high school he took off on the road with a traveling club band—and never stopped. He moved to Nashville in 1996 and within a few months landed gigs with Tanya Tucker, Pam Tillis, and finally settled in with Travis Tritt for about thirteen years. Scotty says he’s thrilled to be facing new musical challenges and to work with legends like the Oaks.
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