Background
Shay, Gene was born on March 4, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Louis Albert and Ida (Perlmutter) Shaner.
Shay, Gene was born on March 4, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Louis Albert and Ida (Perlmutter) Shaner.
Bachelor of Science, Temple University, 1957.
He is a representative of Philadelphia"s folk music scene. He has produced weekly folk radio shows since 1962 (now on WXPN and his final show on WXPN was February 1, 2015. Previously heard on WHAT-FM, WMMR, WIOQ and WHYY-FM).
Shay also serves as a host for the online "Folk Alley" stream originating at Kent State University station WKSU-FM and carried on WXPN"s website.
His early interviews with Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, John Denver, Tom Waits, Philosophy Ochs, Bonnie Raitt and Judy Collins are almost legendary—some of these recorded interviews have been bootlegged. Shay 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 years later came up with the name World Cafe for the nationally syndicated series produced by WXPN and distributed by National Public Radio.
Foreign a few years he edited and published Singer-Songwriter, a newsletter that had subscribers in the United States, Canada and Japan.
Shay served as a Charter Board Member of the North American Folk Alliance, served on the Board of Sing Out!.
Married Gloria Fae Segall, November 23, 1961. Children: Rachel Ann, Elana Moss.