Yesterday I learned of the passing of our good friend Barefoot Kenny. Another good friend that will be missing when we finally get back to seeing our favorite bands and festivals. I have always looked forward to seeing Kenny and Jan in town park, at Rockygrass and numerous Leftover Salmon shows. And with his mandolin at many picks. His playing with John Wood and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades at Runamuck is still one of my favorite memories. He always looked forward to me bringing my maple syrup and cheese curds from Wisconsin. Todd Snider did a nice tribute this morning on his “What It Is” show telling how Barefoot Kenny got included on a Jerry Jeff Walker song from Time As We Know It. Miss you Barefoot.
Todd Snider The Continuing Saga Of The Classic Bummer
[Verse 2]
We drove to this bar
Outside of El Dorado Springs
Gonna drink a case of Fat Tire
Hear old Vince Herman sing
They had this antlered rabbit on the wall
Spiked horns and ears a foot tall
Barefoot Kenny told me it was a Colorado jackalope
Here’s the Todd Snider version with the above lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx5TT9ysp8Q
:thumbsup This is very cool, thx Billy. SKOL Barefoot Kenny :thedude :cheers
Barefoot Kenny memorial today at 4:00 in Jamestown. Jan is providing lots of pizzas and I’m sure that a few friends will be picking.
I thought that it would be nice to pass along the program from yesterday’s memorial. First of all we had his name wrong but that probably only adds to his legend.
Kenneth “Bearfoot Kenny” Joel Gray, 63 of Jamestown, Colorado died July 17, 2020 of complications related to colon cancer. Kenny was born August 4, 1956 the son of Mickey and HHerb Gray. At 23 he traveled across the country, landed in Colorado, and made his home along the Peak-to-Peak in the mountains of Nederland, Gold Hill, Ward and Jamestown.
Kenny was a talented auto mechanic who was well known by his neighbors, mountain community and touring musicians for his ability to swiftly diagnose and repair any problem on any vehicle (unless it was a German auto). He was known to have hauled a Cadillac out of the James Creek flood waters and proudly restored it to working order. Kenny’s skill and understanding of mechanics extended beyond vehicles and he could repair almost anything he laid his hands on. Kenny saw the value and function in items left behind and had a plan for everything he collected.
Kenny loved music, especially bluegrass, and cherished his giant community of pickers and grinners. He made friends from coast to coast and across the world and he never hesitated to call 'em up and check in or stop by if he was passing through town. Kenny loved driving and road trips and having never had a cell phone, always used a atlas, a pay phone or a stranger’s cell. He loved feeding people and was famous for his perfect cheesecake, his biscuits and gravy with no less than four sources of fat and white corn grits, his grilled London broil served medium rare and thinly sliced, and the chanterelles he hunted in secret spots in soggy years.
Kenny is survived by his ever loving partner Jan Reed, his daughter Katherine Schaefer-Gray, his brother Richard Gray and his sweet blue heeled Bella, and his dear friends whom he loved very much. He is preceded in death by his parents as well as many friends and loved ones.
Bearfoot Kenny will live forever in the myths and legends of the infamous bear-footed hippy.
Thanks for sharing that Al! :cheers :flower I pert near made the memorial pick on my way thru to Purg last week, 
but the travel demons made sure I didn’t.
I trust it was a grand pick, as always. :festivarian :thedude Rest easy Barefoot. SKOL Kenny! :cheers
It was very sad to hear of Barefoot Kenny leaving our world. His kindness and generosity at every RockyGrass I attended for 11 yrs in a row and also seeing him up at my pub in Nederland (First Street Pub & Grill) back in the day. I know many of us at camp will miss him. His fun conversations. His picking. His biscuits and gravy. Kether. Jan. I will pick some tunes for him here in Tampa, in loving memory…and be thankful for the next RockyGrass where we can lay some flowers by the spot he always camped at.
Love to his family 
until we hug again xoxo