About

Kei-Touch is a proud native of Houston, Texas. Kei-Touch grew up with an appreciation for music and radio. Exposure to the arts as a child fueled her curiosity, which eventually lead to her learning to play the piano, trombone, and flute throughout school. After graduating from high school, Barnes joined the United States Army that took her from Houston to Germany and eventually to the Washington, DC metropolitan area. During her tenure in the Army, she never let go of her passion for music and radio, inciting her pursuit of those passions after she completed her service.

In 2009, Kei-Touch joined the Urban One family, founded by media mogul Cathy Hughes. Since joining Urban One, Kei­Touch has been mentored by some of the best DJs and talk show hosts in the business. Ultimately inspiring Kei-Touch to step out on her own and become a respected DJ. Touch has been called on to DJ at WMMJ, Majic 102.3 and WPRS­FM, Praise 104.1 events. Kei-Touch has been the premier DJ for several concerts at the historic Howard Theater (for Kem, Chrisette Michelle, and India Arie), Lincoln Theater (for Dave Hollister and Jon B} and the distinguished Congressional Black Caucus (Ledisi}. Kei-Touch served as the MC and DJ for Blacks in Government, Region Xi’s 1st Virtual Gala and panel discussion, Black Men Revealed panel at The Fillmore.

Kei-Touch moderated the Black History Program for the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, in February 2022.

As passionate as Kei-Touch is about music and radio, that passion runs just as deep for business, innovation and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math}. After seeing the 2016 movie Hidden Figures, Touch was inspired to research and discover African American inventors, innovators, leaders, and business owners. This curiosity evolved into a “Hidden Figures” segment which spotlighted these industry leaders every Sunday on Praise 104.1 FM from January 2017-November 2019. The segment was so well received that in June 2017, ‘The Outlet with Kei-Touch” aired its first episode on WOL 1450 AM & 95.9 FM – Radio One’s flagship station.

The Outlet with Kei-Touch has had the privilege of interviewing notable guests that embody Black Brilliance such as ,Dr. Ben Chavis, Civil Rights Leader, Ms. Sylvia Traymore Morrison, 1st Black Female Impressionist and black female writer for Saturday Night Live, Dr. Kwamme Anderson, Former VP of Programs for Congressional Black Caucus.Ms. Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks in Government, Dr. Umar Johnson, Speaker & Certified School Psychologist, General Gregory Brundidge (Retired USAF}, Lori Hall, Senior Vice President Marketing, TV One and many more. Kei­Touch continues to work hard to bring engaging and enlightening shows to her listening audience with the hopes of everyone discovering the black brilliance that is within them.