Origin Story

The inspiring tale of Golden Goals' origin, rooted in a transformative journey of a mother and son unearthing hidden music and reviving a long-held dream. This personal experience underscores the need to empower older adults in pursuing their artistic passions and serves as a powerful testament to the organization's mission. 

As told by our founder, Baye Harrell:

In August 2018, it hit me: I had never used my skills from the arts and music industries to help my mother pursue her own musical dreams. Memories flooded back of our music-filled home, with my mother recording her ideas onto cassette tapes, stashing them away with song lyrics in folders for decades. Prompted by a simple question, "Mom, do you remember this melody you wrote...," we embarked on a journey to uncover her hidden music and revive her lifelong dream.

In February 2020, just before the pandemic, we surprised my mother with a birthday photoshoot, capturing her surrounded by her cherished music folders, belting out her heart. Despite being miles apart, we released one of her songs as a single on digital platforms that same year. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience, fueling our determination to record and release a full project of her music as soon as possible.

The COVID lockdown intensified feelings of hopelessness, especially among older individuals. It worried me, thinking about my parents and other family members who might have felt a lack of purpose in their golden years. But our shared excitement for our collaborative project provided a much-needed spark, granting us renewed purpose and joy.

This transformative journey shed light on the importance of supporting older adults in achieving their creative goals. Recognizing that my experience and professional network could help seniors fulfill their artistic aspirations, Golden Goals was born. We bridge the gap between older adulthood and the creative industries, offering a life "purpose" extension plan that encourages everyone to age happily and healthy through the pursuit of their artistic passions.