Mourning the Loss of Pioneering Folk DJ Gene Shay
Our dear friend, mentor, and inspiration Gene Shay succumbed to the COVID-19 Virus at 85 on April 18th, following several weeks in intensive care in a Philadelphia hospital. Gene loved folk music, the artists who make it, and the fans who loved it with him as much as anyone. What set him apart from most is how much our community loved him back. For more than six decades he taught southeast Pennsylvania audiences all kinds of folk music via his long-running Sunday folk radio program. He was also the face and voice of the Philadelphia Folk Festival (as well as being a co-founder), and served on the boards of several folk music institutions, including Sing Out! We will miss him dearly! (For more details on Gene’s incredible career and life, check out the Philadelphia Inquirer article online.)
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DakhaBrakha is a world-music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, the Ukrainian «ethnic chaos» band creates a world of unexpected new music. In late February 2022, Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has forced the group to cancel upcoming tours (which was to include a long-awaited return to the U.S.). While we all send our love and support to all the people of Ukraine as well as this terrific quartet, and their efforts to stay free, here is a wonderful “Tiny Desk from Home” concert from NPR & GlobalFest, recorded in January 2021. Beautiful and powerful! Check out their website … check out their Facebook page … or listen to their music on the streamer of your choice!
