MC of Philadelphia Folk Festival critically ill with COVID-19
Written by Juliana on April 17, 2020
MC of Philadelphia Folk Festival critically ill with COVID-19
By Brad Klein
April 17, 2020

Gene Shay the long time MC of the Philadelphia Folk Festival is critically ill with COVID-19. He’s been called the ‘grandfather’ of the Festival, and the dean of folk radio. He started spinning records in the early 1960s and made a home for 20 years at public radio’s WXPN in Philly. WLVR’s Brad Klein spoke to Kathy O’Connell who was a colleague of Shay’s there, where she hosts the show Kids Corner. At the time of this story, Shay remains hospitalized at LankenauMedical Center.
Listen to the full story below.