Jamaican radio hit couple, Gil and Pat Bailey. - Contributed JAMAICAN NEW York-based radio disc jockeys Gil and Pat Bailey were in the island recently for a well-earned vacation and to announce plans for their annual gospel awards/banquet event in New York City.
The couple appeared in a number of local television interviews during their visit, as well as visiting their hometowns and friends in Jamaica and even drinking shrimp soup in Middle Quarters.
Still regarded as the leading Jamaican radio couple in New York City, after more than 30 years in the business, they have been hosting shows on Saturdays on WPAT AM radio, since the sale of FM station WNWK to the city's Hispanic community.
The pair have been aided by strong, adult Caribbean support over the years, which has not been seriously eroded by their move from FM to AM.
"I don't go for the young people, I go for the mature audiences. I play the refined type of reggae and gospel, so it works," said Gil.
The Baileys are heard on WPAT 930 AM every Saturday between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
NEW INNOVATION
One of their new innovations is The Caribbean Gospel 2002 Awards and Banquet. This year's event is scheduled for the Rose Castle in Brooklyn on Sunday, May 12.
This is the second year of the event, which features awards to top performers in Caribbean gospel in NYC as well as performances.
This year's programme will feature Joan Flemming, Nora Dean, Barbara Jones, George Nooks, Owen Gray, Dobby Dobson, Voice of Revelation, Evangelist Gobourne, Gerry Thompson (a Jamaican-Canadian), Wayne Stoddard, Devon Johnson from New York, Campbell Sisters from Canada, Sister Bridget from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Kenny Roberts from the Bahamas and Erica Collymore from Trinidad and Tobago.
Winners of the awards are selected by ballots from various churches and ticket locations, which are tallied and certified before the announcement.
Mr. Bailey was born in St. Thomas, while Mrs. Bailey is from St. Elizabeth. They met and got married in New York City in 1968 then moved into radio. Their only daughter, Gayle, died in a car crash in 1992.
The couple hosts the following programmes on Saturdays and WPAT 930 a.m.:
Gospel from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., including a prayer line from 6.15 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. featuring leading evangelists and pastors from NYC; Oldies, between 9:00 a.m. and noon, followed by the news; one hour of talk, 'Let's Hear It', 12:30-1:30 p.m.; and popular gospel music between 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
