Beloved country music legend, central Pa. native, dies at 98: ‘Genuinely a sweet man’

On Jan. 22, central Pennsylvania lost one of the area’s most beloved country singers and songwriters.

Al Shade, a legendary country/western music star from Gratz, died last week at 98. Shade was best known for hits like “I’m A Star On WLBR,” and “Forever and a Day,” which he wrote with his wife and musical partner, Jean.

WLBR, a Lebanon-based radio station, helped put Shade on the map in 1952 as an upcoming country/western artist. He started out being featured during the A.M. broadcasts and would soon have over an hour of time on the air to perform live…

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