Donna Ray Norton

Donna Ray Norton is an 8th-generation ballad singer from the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, hailing from the musically rich community of Sodom Laurel in Madison County. This area, famously described as a “Nest of Singing Birds” by the folklorist Cecil Sharp over a century ago, is deeply intertwined with Donna Ray’s heritage. Her family lineage includes the very singers whom Cecil Sharp recorded performing traditional “love songs.”

Donna Ray’s musical roots run deep. Her maternal grandfather, Byard Ray, was a renowned fiddle player known across the country, while her paternal grandfather, Morris Norton, was a versatile musician who played the banjo, tune bow, and even the paper bag. Her mother, Lena Jean Ray, was also a ballad singer and was part of the Folk Music Revival movement during her college years in New York City. Additionally, Donna Ray is the second cousin of the celebrated ballad singer, storyteller, and musician, Sheila Kay Adams.

Donna Ray Norton continues her family’s legacy, bringing the ancient ballads and rich traditions of the Appalachian Mountains to life for new generations.