A Salute to Woman

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MARCH 24 - MA RCH 30, 2021 | www.jama ica-gleaner.com | I11 By Aubrey Campbell I F THE actual celebration of Women’s History Month is to focus on the of- ten-overlooked contributions of women to society in general, then our spotlighting – posthumously - of ‘Pat’ Bailey is most fitting at this time. Born and raised in Black River, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, Ellen Patricia Bailey was among the early wave of Jamaicans who moved north, looking for greener pastures and a piece of the American Dream. Landing in NewYork City in 1967, her search was short and eventful, meet- ing and falling in love, at first sight, with the dashing and debonair Gilbert ‘Gil’ Bailey. Fondly remembered as a lifelong, thriving entrepreneur, Pat Bailey’s contri- butions and accomplishments are too nu- merous to list. After working in nursing, she owned and operated several busi- nesses in the NewYork metropolitan area, such as a restaurant, Sights & Sounds Record Store, an international shipping and travel business, a hair salon, real es- tate ventures, and her latest undertaking before departing this earth, Yaad&Farin Specialty Store in Queens, New York, of- fering the best of home, abroad. In the span of four decades plus, she became the fuel and energy for the highly acclaimed and globally recognised‘Gil & Pat Bailey Show’, at a time when the New York City airwaves were off limits to the migrant, minority community. It is safe to say that the novelty of their production and presentation outlasted the naysayers! “Pat Bailey was a renaissance woman, a pioneer who blazed her way into the hearts and households of millions for nearly half a century. I am humbled to say she was a mentor to me. She and her husband, Gil, were the first to put me on air, sometime in 1992,” offered Sharon Gordon, media and marketing specialist and co-founder of the Coalition to Preserve Reggae (CPR). “Gil and Pat taught me all I needed to know, not just about the radio side of things but the ‘full monty’. It was the early‘90s and reggae music and Jamaican culture were “crossing over”. Mrs Bailey taught me how to be a broadcaster.” “She instructed me on how to pres- ent music, news and interviews on air. She cautioned me constantly about the balance that was necessary to keep your audience engaged and not have them change the dial. This was long before the digital era.” “What Gil and Pat did was trailblazing,” she said with an air of reverence. Janice Julian, chief operating officer (COO) at IrieJam Media, says Pat Bailey’s legacy is long and lasting. “Pat Bailey will always have a dear place in my heart. I owe all the inroads I have made in the Jamaican-American media industry to her. She believed in me and wanted me to shine.” “Her tenacious leadership and drive propelled ‘The Gil & Pat Bailey Show’ to what we know and cherish today. While Gil hosted the programme, she anchored - The godmother of Jamaican Diaspora Radio for sure! Her phenomenal legacy has impacted us all and she remains unforgettable!” Ellen Patricia Bailey died in December, 2016. Remembering Pat Bailey, broadcast pioneer Pat Bailey. CONTRIBUTION THE WEEKLY GL AN R | MARCH 24 - APRIL 24, 021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.co | WOMEN’S MONTH FEATURE