Her second single, Happy Birthday Baby, reached #10 on Springbok's Top 20 in May 1971. She was awarded the Springbok Award (mini Sarie) at the 1971 SARIE Awards as South Africa's Most Promising Female Vocalist. Her next chart entry was with the single Silver Threads and Golden Needles. The song peaked at #6 on Springbok's Top 20 in November 1971 and remained on the charts for 16 weeks, earning Barbara her first gold disc. She released her second album early in 1972 and scored two radio hits with the singles Blackboard Of My Heart and Valley Of The Moon. Public demand for appearances took on phenomenal proportions and overnight Barbara was working a gruelling schedule.Barbara's mother suggested to her that she record the Tammy Wynette tear-jerker I Don't Wanna Play House. She did and her version was a resounding success, reaching #1 on Springbok's Top 20 hit parade for six consecutive weeks during February and March 1973. It topped the Rhodesian charts for two weeks and hit the #1 spot on the Australian Hit Parade for no fewer than eight consecutive weeks (albeit almost a year later)!This netted three gold discs for the single from her record company locally and a double gold disc award from Australia. In doing so, the song became the most successful girl's hit single of 1973 in South Africa and achieved the same status in Australia in 1974. Her next single Funny Face reached a respectable #3 on Springbok's Top 20 in November 1973. She was back on the charts in August 1974 at the #12 spot with a ditty entitled Joey.

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In April 1975, Barbara undertook a successful 10 week tour of Australia with Digby Richards. Her chart success in Australia was not limited to I Don't Wanna Play House - during her tour two other songs, Sad Movies and Joey, were both in the Top 10 on the Australian charts. On her return to South Africa, Barbara was presented with a gold disc for record sales in excess of 360 000 units within a two year period. In December she was back on the charts, this time with Bobby Angel in the form of their duet entitled The Greatest Christmas Gift which reached #19 on Springbok's Top 20 hit parade." Don't leave us!" her fans begged, and Barbara promised that she wouldn't. In April 1976 the Brakpan Lions Club named her Citizen of the Year. In October of the same year she won two SARIE Awards. Her album Barbara clinched the award as Best English LP Of The Year and, along with Bobby Angel, she won the SARIE Award for Best Vocal Group. In May 1977 Barbara's rendition of Who's Gonna Tie My Shoes reached #S11 on Springbok's Top 20 hit parade. She decided not to renew her contract with Teal, and after considering a handsome offer, signed with EMI in December 1979.

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Her first venture under EMI's banner, Down The Mississippi, reached #4 on Springbok's Top 20 in August 1980 and earned Barbara another gold disc award. The album also went gold and both discs were presented to her by Cliff Richard in November 1980. Her second album for EMI, The Country Music Of Barbara Ray, earned Barbara a triple gold disc award for album sales.Barbara teamed up with Bobby Angel in 1983 to record the album, Voices. The title-track reached #17 on Springbok's (now) Top 30 hit parade in May. In the same year Barbara's husband Jack died of a heart attack. Although she continced performing, her public appearances became less frequent, with her attention focused more on charity work, and braving the challenge of raising her children alone.In 1985 she returned to Scotland, toured with Sydney Divine and recorded an album with Tommy Truesdale (now a top DJ on Scottish West Sound Radio), which was released there. On her return she learnt that she had won her sixth SARIE Award: the 1985 SARIE for Best Country Singer. In all, Barbara was nominated for a SARIE Award for fourteen consecutive years. She celebrated her 25th year as a singer and was made Citizen of the Year by the Brakpan Town Council in honour of her contributions through the years to her community. Barbara made a welcome return to the recording booth in 1996, when she recorded her album, Working Man.

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Barbara's songs include: Where the Gypseys Play (Barbara's first hit single)

Happy Birthday Baby

Silver Threads and Golden Needles

Blackboard Of My Heart

Valley Of The Moon

I Don't Wanna Play House

Funny Face

Joey

Who's Gonna Tie My Shoes

Down The Mississippi,

Working Man (Album) and many more

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