RIP Gene Shay - Philadelphia Folk Music Legend

I'm sorry to report the passing of Gene Shay, longtime MC of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and 'the dean' of Folk Radio, of complications from COVID19. He influenced a ton of musicians and made the term 'folk music' an expansive one.

I produced a short interview Thursday at the PA NPR News station where I host Morning Edition. You can hear that HERE. And click at least for the wonderful portrait by photographer Robert Corwin, (used with permission).

And I'm sure that more comprehensive coverage is on the way.

Three days ago they announced he had passed and then had to retract it as he was still alive. Did he finally pass?

https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/...-20200415.html

I'll answer my own question, it looks like he finally left us yesterday.

https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/...-20200418.html

Yes. The organizers of the Philly Folk Fest, apologized for announcing that Gene had passed on Wednesday (he was in hospice care at the time) beginning with the words, 'always the practical joker...'. And that's from folks who deeply loved him.

A colleague of his at WXPN told me he was the master of the 'dad joke' before the term was invented.

Wednesday his passing was all over my FB feed but his actual passing wasn't there yesterday or today. RIP.

Yes. Gene has passed. I worked at the Philly Folk Fest for 17 years. from 2001 - 2018. I have so many good memories of the music I heard, the people I met, and experiences shared there. Gene was very nice. He loved not only the music but the people who made it. He invested of himself in getting new artists out to the larger world.

We had thought he was doing great when they were bringing him off the vent but he had had a stroke and was moved to hospice care. I went out with a friend earlier this week (after the first erroneous announcement) and visited the site to say our goodbyes.

He lived a good life and leaves a great legacy.
Jamie
His Green Room under the main stageAttachment 185036
My friend sitting at the emcee locationAttachment 185037
The main stageAttachment 185038

That's really nice Jamie. Thanks so much for sharing those pictures.

Lise and I were dining at World Cafe Live several years ago, and heard a very familiar voice at a nearby table. We knew Gene's voice well from being long-term listeners to his Sunday night folk program on the radio. There he was dining with two or three young people who he was obviously mentoring. What an opportunity for them! He certainly will be missed by a great many people.

I remember meeting Gene at WXPN, I was taking phone pledges,Gene noticed my mandolin case and asked me about it. We had a nice conversation about music as I was on to a practice after the pledge period. Gene exuded the same warmth and wit privately as he did on his radio show or on stage as an MC. He will be missed.