A Gene Shay bobblehead doll
Listen to Gene Shay talk to Bob Bumbera of the XPN Morning Show
This Sunday will be Gene Shay’s final Folk Show. After more than five decades as a guru of the genre on the Philadelphia airwaves – 20 of those years spent on WXPN – he is stepping down from his broadcaster’s mic to retire. This week he spoke with Bob Bumbera of the XPN morning show, who says “[Shay’s] name is synonymous with the music genre he has supported and cultivated for half a century.”
In the interview, he talks about getting his start in folk music, about cultivating his own informal, authentic way of broadcasting and being surprised to find that his non-style became a style over time. He also talks about his plans for his last show, and retirement.
“To be perfectly honest, I think about how great those years have been, the music I’ve heard and people I’ve met,” Shay tells Bumbera. “When I think back, I think this like has been so good to me, a 60 year career in music.”
Gene Shay’s final episode of The Folk Show airs this Sunday, February 1st, at a special time – 3 p.m. EST on 88.5 FM in Philadelphia or XPN.org worldwide. It rebroadcasts at 8 p.m. EST, and will be available for archived streaming after. Below, listen to Shay’s interview on the XPN Morning Show.