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About

About The Wandering Minstrels

The Wandering Minstrels are an acoustic vocal group that grew out of an unlikely beginning during the COVID lockdown. Jon Hardy and Mike Barney first started singing together in the parking lot of a Heine Brothers coffee shop, sitting in separate cars with their windows rolled down and harmonizing across the parking spaces.

What began as a socially distanced duet soon turned into regular performances for local residential care communities under the name The Heine Singers. In 2023, Jon’s cousin Ben Hardy joined the group, expanding the sound and inspiring a new name—The Wandering Minstrels, borrowed from the musical theater group led by their uncle, Burwell Hardy, in the 1960s and 70s.

Today the group performs a wide range of acoustic favorites at community events, restaurants, private parties, and weddings. In December 2025, Richard Thurman joined as a full-time member, adding another guitar and voice to the group’s rich harmonies.

From parking lot beginnings to stages around the community, The Wandering Minstrels continue to do what they love most—sharing good songs and good company.

The Wandering Minstrels are all members of the Louisville Musicians’ Union (Local 11-637)

Mike Barney
Bass & Vocals

Mike’s love of music started early, picking up the trombone in elementary school and playing all the way through high school. His first public acting role came not long after, performing in the Summer Stock production of The King and I.

While stationed in Okinawa, Mike formed a duet called Mother Nature’s Sons, which quickly grew into Londonderry, one of the island’s popular bands. Through the 1970s he performed with several folk groups, shifted into Country Western in the 1980s, and eventually found his way to soft rock in the 1990s.

Originally from California, Mike and his family moved to Louisville in 2008. He played solo gigs for a while and later spent several years with a blues band. A chance meeting at Friday Night Church—where he was playing bass—introduced him to percussionist Jon Hardy. When COVID hit, the two kept the music alive by gathering in a Heine Brothers parking lot, playing from the comfort of their separate cars.

Their duo became known as The Heine Singers, with Mike on guitar and vocals. A few years later, Jon’s cousin Ben Hardy joined, and the trio became The Wandering Minstrels, known for their rich harmonies. The group expanded once more with the addition of Richard Thurman, whose talent blended in effortlessly.

Today, harmony is king—and The Wandering Minstrels continue to grow that sound.

Jon Hardy
Percussion & Vocals

Jon started his formal music education with piano lessons at age 4 with cousin Ben. Both served as sopranos in the children's choir. In his earliest known recording he sang Jingle Bells at age 2 with his older brother. He listened by earphone to his A.M. radio at night when he was supposed to be sleeping. Like many boomers, he really caught the music bug with the wave that swept the country in 1964, started playing drums in basement bands, and played some dances and parties in high school. But he has always loved to sing. "So many songs, so little time."

Jon re-entered music performance at age 25 with a group called Bacchus, followed by a long stint with a 50's and 60's dance band, Donny Dynamite & the Dynamos, which once warmed up for Jefferson Starship. He also played early rock, blues, and R & B with The Invaders, The Vinyl Kings, Cadillac Shack, Nu Vinyl Dynamos,and more recently with Purple Bird Machine, Area 52, and The Wringtones, where he has explored many different styles. After all, the drummer plays whatever those other guys are playing. He met fellow bandmate Mike Barney around 2018 while subbing on drums at a Friday night service and Richard Thurman around 2023 in Area 52. In recent years, Jon has learned to play nicely with acoustic musicians, joining several groups focused on vocal harmony, including the Route 15 Band and The Wandering Minstrels. In the latter group he sings lead and background vocals and plays lite percussion. He is very happy to continue playing and singing, bringing music to the masses.

Ben Hardy
Guitar & Vocals

Ben Hardy has been making music for more than 50 years, which means he started sometime shortly after the invention of electricity and guitar amplifiers. A guitarist and vocalist with a lifelong love of harmony and melody, Ben’s musical tastes run the gamut from Broadway musicals and classical music to the iconic sounds of The Beatles and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

His musical journey began early, performing in his uncle’s musical theater productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Gilbert & Sullivan. That early start led to years of singing in high school and church choirs, along with playing in several good old-fashioned “garage bands” throughout the 1960s and 70s.

Ben studied voice at the University of Louisville School of Music and continued his musical education at the Bellarmine School of Jazz and the University of Kentucky School of Music. Along the way he performed with the Louisville Orchestra Masterworks Chorale and even lent his talents to commercial jingles and television and radio spots.

Today, Ben brings decades of musical experience, warm vocals, and a deep appreciation for great songs to The Wandering Minstrels —along with the occasional story from the good old days.

Richard Thurman
Guitar & Vocals

Richard’s father was a country string band guitarist and his mother was trained as a classical pianist, so there was always music in the house along with a record collection filled with show tunes, old country songs, dixieland jazz, and classical music. As a child he first performed occasionally in a family act. Later, in a folk trio with his brother and sister and in various choirs, he learned to appreciate tight harmonies and musical expression. At sixteen took up the guitar, which has remained a lifelong passion.

With a degree in fine arts, he spent his career as a designer, starting with scenery and then tradeshow exhibits. With a demanding job and four children, opportunities to collaborate musically were rare. He spent time tinkering in his basement workshop repairing, designing, and building guitars. He also developed a sizable repertoire of parody lyrics lampooning the exhibit industry and office life. When he eventually realized that many of his young coworkers did not recognize the songs he was using as source material for his humor he saw it as a sign that retirement was imminent. Alas, the fate of a boomer!

Today Richard enjoys music and culture with his wife Carol. He is grateful that life has given him the opportunity to share so many activities and interests with his friends; especially as a member of The Wandering Minstrels.

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