Red Spirit Horse

This painting's deep purple background is a perfect foil for this prancing spotted horse !

(1938-2016) Thayhaiya was this Kiowa artist's Indian name. It translates to Hunting Horse.  

Ray's formative years traveling and singing with his family's gospel group.  He could sing and play both the guitar and the piano.  After having married Ella Glasbow of Lawton, Oklahoma, they traveled and sang together as a couple, forming the Darby Indian Singers.  Later Mr. Darby became a preacher.

A painting of an Indian dancer by Ray Darby is in the the Museum of the American Indian's permanent collection. He is listed in The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters and in Jeanne Snodgrass's publication American Indian Painters.