Ray Kinney
Ray Kinney was born on September 26, 1900 in Hilo, Hawaii. At age 15, he was
sent to school in Salt Lake City where he formed a band with his brothers. In
1928, Ray joined Johnny Noble's radio show and signed with Brunswick Records
later that same year. He began touring the US mainland and had an 11-month
engagement at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel. In 1936, Decca Records signed Johnny
Noble and His Orchestra with Kinney as vocalist. He became the first Hawaiian
entertainer in a major Broadway production when he was cast in Hellzapoppin' in
September 1938. During World War II, Kin...
