Oscar Brand, Host Of WNYC/New York's 'Folksong Festival' For 70 Years, Dies At 96

Brand

OSCAR BRAND, the folksinger who hosted "OSCAR BRAND'S FOLKSONG FESTIVAL" for 70 years on NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO News-Talk WNYC-A/NEW YORK, died FRIDAY at his home in GREAT NECK, LONG ISLAND, NY of pneumonia at 96.

BRAND, a WINNIPEG native, became a popular folksinger and songwriter, recording over the years for RIVERSIDE, AUDIO FIDELITY, ELEKTRA, ABC PARAMOUNT, TRADITION, EVEREST, CAEDMON, and other labels, and joined WNYC on DECEMBER 10, 1945, taking no pay for his SATURDAY night show.  The show became the GUINNESS world record holder for longest-running radio show with a single host.  In addition, BRAND hosted shows on NPR; He also was among the founders of the NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL and hosted television shows on CTV and the CBC in CANADA, and served on the board of "SESAME STREET" producer CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP.  BRAND won a PEABODY AWARD in 1982 and another in 1997.

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