Gene Shay

Image of Gene Shay WXPN Folk Show features archival Tom Rush interviews. 2005 - Gene Shay and Tom Rush, Philadelphia, 23.10.2005. Photo: Robert Corwin

Gene Shay WXPN Folk Show features archival Tom Rush interviews

Heading image ©2005 Robert Corwin

The magical Gene Shay of 88.5 WXPN Philadelphia has been a friend and supporter of Tom since his earliest days. This show starts with Gene talking about Tom version of “Mole’s Moan” and how it became the staple intro to the show for many decades. Having produced a weekly folk radio show since 1962, this show is part of the buildup toward Gene’s retirement. This program features archival interviews with Tom (at the 37min mark), as well as an 1967 interview with Joni Mitchell and others.

Tom plays “Mole's Moan” for Gene Shay farewell on WXPN

Tom plays “Mole’s Moan” for Gene Shay farewell on WXPN

WXPN’s Gene Shay, the “Dean of Folk DJ’s” retired from the airwaves after a glorious 50+ year career on Sunday, February 1st. As a tribute, Tom Rush plays a version of “Mole’s Moan,” the song Gene used as the theme to his weekly music show.

 

Shameless plug: Mole’s Moan appears on the album TOM RUSH Blues, Songs & Ballads, available in the online store.

Tom Performs "Lost My Driving Wheel"

“What I Know” – Folk Album Of The Year

Delivered by Gene Shay for Tom Rush

This is the text of the acceptance speech I asked Gene Shay to deliver for me at the International Folk Alliance conference in Memphis in Mid February, 2010. They gave me the Folk Album of the Year award, but I couldn’t’ be there because it was my daughter’s Winter Break, and I had promises to keep.

For those of you who don’t know, Gene has been the voice of folk on Philadelphia radio for eons, and is the main reason I have an audience there. He has been a good friend for a long time, and I hope he doesn’t harbor any ill feelings. I wrote the sections in brackets to be delivered as Gene “speaking for himself.”

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