WXPN’s Gene Shay to be inducted in the Philadelphia Walk of Fame this Thursday, October 24th
This Thursday, October 24th, The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame, along the Avenue of the Arts, will induct seven new Philly musical movers and shakers, including WXPN’s Gene Shay. A big congratulations goes out to Gene. We’re thrilled and honored to have Gene host The Folk Show on Sunday nights at XPN. Other inductees include producer and label executive Joel Dorn (“Killing Me Softly”); songwriting team Madara & White (“At the Hop”); producer-songwriter-publisher Jerry Ross (“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” with Gamble & Huff; “Venus”); producer-arranger-conductor Vince Montana Jr., (whose work with TSOP and the Salsoul Orchestra is legendary) John Davis & The Monster Band (who had the 1976 disco hit with a cover of Cole Porter’s “Night and Day,”) and Macy’s Grand Court organist Peter Richard Conte. The ceremonies, free and open to the public, are scheduled at Noon on 10/24 in front of the Doubletree Hotel along the Avenue of the Arts. Philadelphia Walk of Fame Alumni, including Bobby Rydell, Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, Kal Rudman, Earl Young (Baker, Harris & Young); Jerry Gross (The Dovells); Joe Tarsia; Dave Appel (of Cameo-Parkway) will also be there. Jerry Blavat, The Geator With The Heator is the MC and host for the events.
Gene, known as the “Grandfather of Philadelphia Folk Music,” and “the Dean of American folk DJs,” has been playing folk music on the radio since 1962 and was the co-founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Shay’s early interviews with Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, John Denver, Tom Waits, Phil Ochs, Bonnie Raitt and Judy Collins are legendary. He was the first to bring Bob Dylan to Philadelphia in 1963 for his debut concert. As an advertising writer and producer, he wrote the original radio commercials for Woodstock. He helped design the famous “smiling banjo” logo for the Philadelphia Folk Festival and came up with the name World Cafe for the show.
For more information about the ceremony and the PMA here.