New York Caribbean Diaspora radio listeners were stunned Monday to learn of the passing of long time radio personality Pat Bailey.
Pat Bailey, 77, the other half of the 43-year-old ‘Gil and Pat Bailey’ show, died Monday News Americas Now has learnt. Mrs. Bailey had been recovering from a stroke she suffered on Dec. 5, 2015 prior to her death at her home in Long Island, New York,.
Jamaican Pat Bailey along with her husband, were a staple of Caribbean Diaspora brokered time radio. According to Caribbean media personality Sharon Gordon who worked with the Baileys from 1993, “Gil and Pat first started on radio in a brokered format on WHBI in 1970. They eventually moved to WNWK, 105.9 FM. After the sale of the station, they moved to WPAT, 930AM.”
There they were a staple on Saturdays with a magazine style show featured news, music including gospel and events. Recently, the couple had also added ‘Yaad and Farin,’ a company selling Jamaican bush teas.
The couple also hosted many events targeting the Jamaican Diaspora, including gospel shows and boat rides. Just last year they presented the Hallelujah Gospel Revival. Billed as the President & first Lady of Caribbean Radio, Gil and Pat stamped their own style of interactio
Over the year the enterprising Pat Bailey was known for her many business ventures including, The Gil and Pat Bailey Record Store in the Bronx which eventually moved to Brooklyn; her pioneering efforts as an independent juke box and arcade game distributor; JoJo Shipping and her favorite, Yaad and Farrin Jamaican Grocery Store, as well as managing the properties they owned.
In 2003, the Government of Jamaica and the Jamaican Consulate in New York honored Gil for his outstanding contribution to Caribbean music and Jamaican culture.
In recounting his first radio broadcast on WHBI in 1970, Gil remembered Pat giving him his first punch line, “My name is Gil Bailey, the hit maker from Jamaica. I am tall and handsome and full of fame!” He credits her for being “the tower of strength behind the show’s success” and for “its reach and longevity.”
“Words cannot express how heart broken I am as we have been inseparable since 1968,” he said.
Last night, many took to Facebook to offer their condolences to the Bailey family.
“End of an Era. RIP Ms. Pat. Walk good. Your significant and groundbreaking contribution will be remembered!,” wrote Andrea Daley, who once read the news on the ‘Gil and Pat Bailey’ show.”
“The Caribbean community mourns with you,” Sherone Hamilton-Pearson added.
A viewing and funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 22nd from 5 to 9 p.m. at New Jerusalem Worship Center, 122-05 Smith St, N.Y., 11434. Repast follows immediately. Flowers should be sent to J. FOSTER PHILLIPS FUNERAL HOME 179-24 Linden Blvd Jamaica, NY 11434.
Mrs. Bailey will be laid to rest on Friday, Dec.23rd at 10 a.m. She is survived by her husband Gil, 5 children, 2 step children, grand and great grand children and other relatives and friends.
SOURCE: News Americas
