Title: Poet and Literary Critic
Company: Station KPFA-FM
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Jack Foley, Poet and Literary Critic, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in poetry and literature.
An accomplished poet, writer, editor, radio host and literary critic, Mr. Foley has devoted more than three decades to mastering his creative skills. A longtime literary critic since 1985, he also served as the editor-in-chief for Poetry USA in Oakland, Calif., a publication of the National Poetry Association, for several years in the 1990s. Likewise, since 1988 he has been the executive producer-in-charge and host of “Cover to Cover,” a weekly poetry program on KPFA-FM (94.1 FM) on Wednesdays between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
In 1963, Mr. Foley earned a Bachelor’s degree at Cornell University, followed by a Master’s degree at the University of California in 1965. He is also a longstanding member of the Modern Language Association and Poets and Writers. He has held the posts of member and former San Francisco secretary of the National Poetry Association as well as member and former program director of PEN Oakland.
Producing many books and compact discs over the years, Mr. Foley has created a unique style of poetry, which involves both writing and performance, sometimes in tension with one another. He has made extensive appearances on the internet, has been a regular contributor to Mary Ann Sullivan’s “The Tower Journal,” Christopher Bernard’s and Ho Lin’s “Caveat Lector,” and many other journals and has performed multiple times alongside his late wife, Adelle Joan Foley, also a poet.
Though Mr. Foley received limited recognition until the age of 45, his wife stood by him through all his works, believing in him every step of the way. His poetry and books have since been reviewed by critics numerous times, receiving much acclaim over the years. Some of his books include “Eyes: Selected Poems,” “Grief Songs,” “Riverrun” and “The Tiger and Other Tales,” all of which are available on www.spdbooks.org. His latest “When Sleep Comes: Shillelegh Songs” will be released in 2019.
“Grief Songs” was notably composed almost entirely after his wife’s unfortunate death in 2016. Married for more than 50 years, Mr. Foley created a work that is both a celebration of his long partnership with Adelle and an attempt to define the nature of grief. Mr. Foley has also crafted a CD that includes performances of pieces from “Grief Songs” as well as an interview with his wife about her poetry.
Jack Foley will receive a silver medallion as part of the K.M. Anthru Literature Prize from the magazine, LITTERATEUR RW, edited by Shajil Anthru. The medallion will be presented by the Indian-American film actor, writer, activist and producer, Thampy Antony Thekkek.
In 2016, he met his soul mate and current performing partner, Sangye Land. She was the daughter-in-law of a close friend of his, and the two fell in love immediately on their first date, which was on Valentine’s Day. They continue to perform together, and provide each other with wonderful artistic inspiration.
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