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The Sugar Shack Jukebox: Tribute to Rockin' Ray Palmer, 1954-2026 (Audio)
Jared pays tribute to beloved friend and fellow WGXC programmer Ray Palmer aka DJ Rockin' Ray, who passed on April 27 just short of his 72nd birthday. From 2013 through 2025 Ray hosted at least 25 radio specials on WGXC, right by Jared's side. Ray's shows featured hundreds of call-ins from friends and family locally and around the country, all demonstrating the power of love, radio, music and togetherness. Ray drew us all into his orbit and elevated us with his personality and purity of spirit and he will be dearly missed.
This tribute program is a hybrid retrospective and live call-in show: It features many magic moments from throughout the years as well as live call-ins remembering Ray. It also includes a previously unaired 2014 interview with Ray and a 2026 song written and performed for Ray by his grandnephew Gabriel Giovanniello.
Ray's obituary: https://ajcunninghamfh.com/tribute/details/3297
Noted enthusiast Jared Widjeskog was locally grown in Stuyvesant, where he lives with his wife and two children. With a deep love for people, music, and the great outdoors, Jared is grateful for the vital role WGXC plays in shaping the future of Columbia and Greene counties through its support of free speech, justice, community connections, and access. He strongly encourages all listeners to support WGXC by clicking Donate and thanks everyone for their participation!
Playlist:
- Memory Garden / Ben Seretan feat. John Thayer
- Wagon Wheel / Darius Rucker feat. Lady Antebellum
- You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) / Rod Stewart
- Take This Job and Shove It / Johnny Paycheck
- Friends in Low Places / Garth Brooks
- Pontoon / Little Big Town
- Hungry Heart (Album Version) / Bruce Springsteen
- You Are My Sunshine / Norman Blake
- Twist and Shoot / The Beatles
- Wipe Out (Remastered) / The Surfaris
- White Lightning / George Jones
- Little Bitty / Alan Jackson
- Love Shack / The B-52's
- Hey Paula / Paul & Paula
- Celebration / Kool & The Gang
- Friday / Rebecca Black
- Modes / Alavy Feur
- Here for the Party / Gretchen Wilson
- Doin' What She Likes / Blake Shelton
- Circle of Life / Carmen Twillie
- Happy (From 'Despicable Me 2') / Pharrell Williams
- When a Man Loves a Woman / Kenny Rogers
- Twenty Years Ago / Kenny Rogers
- American Pie / Don McLean