Betty Harford’s tenure in music began at the ripe old age of six, singing “The Dearest Friend I Ever Had” for her large, close-knit family (her mother was the oldest of twelve!) The granddaughter of tenant farmers in the Missouri boot heel, she grew up in the cotton fields alongside her uncle Jimmy Payne, singing and practicing harmonies inspired by the Louvin Brothers, Carl & Ola Denney, and Melba Montgomery. She developed a range that positioned her not only as a high soprano for church choir, but also as a deep, soulful alto. That versatility came in handy during the live gospel show she and Jimmy hosted on KTCB-Malden, a gig that started when she was fourteen and lasted several years.
In 1961, after moving to St. Louis, Betty and Jimmy attended a station event at KSTL, where she met and fell for a young DJ named John Harford. The two married and often performed together in and around Illinois/Missouri, until their son Jamie was born. She encouraged John to go solo with his career and, after a move to Nashville, was the first person to hear a freshly written “Gentle On My Mind,” following a night at the movies. Betty was also the inspiration for many of John’s early RCA recordings, including “Left Handed Woman” and “Girl With The Long Brown Hair”, and can be seen on the cover of “The Love Album”. After John and Betty moved to California, she was invited to audition as Linda Ronstadt’s replacement in Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, an opportunity she turned down to focus attention on their growing family, now including daughter Katie. She ultimately left California in 1970 and brought the kids back to Nashville, immersing herself once again in gospel music and singing for private events.
In 2011, Betty pulled up roots and landed in Eagle River, Alaska, where she has been active on the festival circuit singing with such artists as Ginger Boatwright, Angela Oudean, Richard Gelardin, and songwriter-laureate Robin Hopper. Her performances here at JHMF 2019 draw upon her rich experience in the Missouri music scene, old-time gospel, and her early years with John.