[Ray was a dear friend of mine whom I met while working at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa in the early ‘50s. Here is an excerpt from my autobiography, which is carried on Hillbilly-Music.com – Dusty Owens]

Two of our very favorite people were Ray and Kay Barnard, the Banjo Kids, a brother and sister act that played only on the Saturday night Barn Dance. I knew them when Ray was 18 and Kay 15. Ray dressed in western shirts, jeans and a straw hat, and Kay always wore a cute gingham dress cut from the same material as Ray's shirt and sometimes a bonnet (their costumes were home made). They both played a four-string banjo and sang duets, and always received a great reception. The people loved them. They usually sang the latest hits like, “I’m Movin’ On,” “The Golden Rocket,” “A Heart Full Of Love” and “Jambalaya.” They always wanted the Rodeo Boys to back them up when they sang on the “Iowa Barn Dance Frolic.”

The Barnards were from a farm 10 miles southeast of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Every chance she got, Mom Barnard would invite some of the people from the Barn Dance to the farm for a fried chicken dinner. It wasn’t long before Dusty and the Rodeo Boys got their invitation.

That was one of the best, fried chicken dinners I have ever eaten. We all became very close friends after that. Not just because of Mom Barnard’s great cooking, but because the whole family were such wonderful people.

Happy Birthday, Ray, wherever you are!

Dusty Owens
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