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| Gil Bailey |
A pioneer of West Indian radio in the U.S. Gil Bailey celebrates 50 years on the airwaves in 2019 and recognized for his contribution with a a massive celebration. Gil Bailey, a pioneer of West Indian radio in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, celebrated his 50th anniversary in broadcasting with a function in Sunny Hill district, St Thomas in Jamaica in 2019. Bailey, who is from the nearby town of Bath, believes it is appropriate to acknowledge his roots in a year when he achieved a significant milestone.
April 13, 2020Gil Bailey known as the godfather of radio in New York has died. In 2019 a massive celebration for Mr. Bailey was executed in St Thomas, Jamaica.
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| Gil Bailey |
“It's a get-together for family and friends. I really grew up in Kingston but St Thomas is where it all started,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Known as the Godfather, the jocular Bailey launched The Gil Bailey Show in New York in 1969. He and his wife Pat co-hosted that programme on Caribbean radio stations such as WHBI, WNWK and WPAT, catering to listeners in the tri-state (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) region.
The show played reggae, calypso, soca and gospel. Pat, whom he married in 1969, died in December 2016 at age 77.
On August 11, organisers of the Merritone Family Fun Day recognised Bailey's contribution to Caribbean broadcasting with a Golden Mic award during its annual event at Heckscher Park in Long Island, New York. Gil Bailey spoke with Rula Brown three weeks on rulabrownnetwork (RBN) to discuss his excitement of doing his gospel radio show on Facebook and Youtube. Gilly you will be surely missed.
Oh know I am so sad to hear. When I to New York 12 years ago my then husband was ardent listener and every Saturday morning we would tune in to listen, may his soul RIP.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first moved to NY, Gil Bailey was one of the DJ's that kept me from getting back on the plane. OMG! RIP my friend 😭😭
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