Barbara Joyce King

August 12, 1937 - September 11, 2016

Barbara Joyce King - Obituary The joyful noise of Joy King (Barbara Joyce), country, western, folk singer, yodeler, guitarist, and fiddler is now silent. She joined the host of singers in heaven on September 11, 2016, praising her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. The East Tennessee Historical Society recently summed up her career: Joy King born August 12, 1937, in Knoxville was a professional entertainer for some four decades. She was hired by Lowell Blanchard on Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round and Tennessee Valley Barn Dance when she was just out of high school. She graduated from UT with a music degree, and then owned her own coffee house in South Knoxville for a year. She performed with Archie Campbell in Gatlinburg and on the road for several years. She served as an MC for weekly performances at the Museum of Appalachia, and worked variously in Hollywood/Nashville/Florida/North Carolina and other locations for 18+ years. She retired from public performing in the early 1990’s. Ms. King was preceded in death by her parents William Doyle King and Barbara Miller Burnett King. She is survived by her brother Andrew (Ann) King of Louisville, TN and her twin sisters Judith (Jim) Barth of Dayton, TN and Martha (Mickey) Park of Birmingham, AL, and ten nieces and nephews who truly enjoyed their Aunt Joy. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date.