SOULcial Salute – June 2025

Brad Ray, Director of Programming – Village Shores Senior Living, Richfield, MN

High Energy And Deep Roots

“You’re on vacation now!” called Ann Huseby as Brad Ray packed up his band’s equipment. He had just finished performing at Saturday’s Richfield Farmers Market that Village Shores was sponsoring.

“Oh, that’s right! I’m officially on vacation—starting now!” he happily shouted. Then he laughed and turned to me saying “Okay, okay, hit me up.” This was quickly followed by “Bye you guys!” to Hala Randall and Ann Huseby, Village Shore’s marketing team.

This was the exchange I walked into under Saturday’s Noon sun as I approached Brad for this article’s interview, after his three hour performance. That brief moment captures Brad Ray perfectly—high energy, in motion, and always ready to engage. He’s not one to slow down and yet still immediately conveys genuine sincerity.

Music and Creativity at the Core

Born to free-spirited parents in the early 1970s, Brad started life on Minneapolis’s West Bank, near the University of Minnesota. In 1973, his family moved north to the Iron Range for teaching jobs, eventually settling in Barrett, “Minn-ee-SO-tah,” near Alexandria—his father’s hometown.

Brad grew up surrounded by music. He credits his passion to early exposure to live performances, cracking a smile while belting out a few lines of Louisiana Saturday Night. That love of music never left. Today, Brad is not only the Director of Programming at Village Shores, but also the founder of The Shoreliners, the community’s in-house band—likely the only one of its kind in Minnesota senior living. He also plays with his personal band, The Kung Fu Hippies.

Discovering a Calling in Senior Care

After graduating from Moorhead State University, Brad stumbled upon a job listing that changed his life: music therapy in a nursing home. He accepted a role as an activity assistant at a senior care facility in North Minneapolis and immediately felt at home.

That was over two decades ago. Brad spent three years there in Minneapolis, followed by 14 years at a nursing home in St. Louis Park. He’s now nearing his 10th year at Village Shores—and still going strong.

A Compassionate Approach to Senior Living

Brad’s empathy and energy are palpable. “In my years working in nursing homes, I’ve seen souls languish,” he said. “I don’t want to see people lonely or isolated. I try to create inclusive spaces where people feel safe stepping out of their shells—trying something new, forming connections, having fresh experiences.”

Brad’s mission is personal. Raised with a strong bond to his grandparents and with a mother who was the senior volunteer coordinator in their hometown, Brad grew up valuing the wisdom and stories of older adults. As an only child, he also cherished the attention and companionship he found in those relationships.

Six years ago, a battle with cancer and a major lifestyle shift deepened his appreciation for life and gave him renewed purpose.

Building Community Through Connection

Brad doesn’t just plan activities—he weaves a web of connection across residents, staff, and the broader community. “I try to form real relationships with residents,” he explained. “When I learn someone’s from Staples, and someone else is from Motley, I connect them. Before you know it—‘I haven’t seen you since high school!’ a resident will gush. It happens all the time.”

He empowers residents to lead, inviting family members, local artists, and subject experts into the community. His programming ranges from a resident’s nephew’s jazz quartet and interactive history talks to his signature Stretch-and-Sing With Brad, Team Trivia along with his reimagined bingo nights and more.

The result? A dynamic, joyful environment where learning, creativity, and relationships flourish.

A Force of Joy at Village Shores

There’s no shortage of stories about Brad’s impact—most of them still waiting in my additional two pages of notes. But the message is clear: Brad Ray is a joyful, driving force within the vibrant culture at Village Shores Senior Living.

“Brad is priceless in the ways he cares for and engages our residents.”
— Ann Huseby, Director of Sales and Marketing, Village Shores