Kay Johnson-Gentile is an American musician and educator.

Education

Kay Johnson-Gentile received her associate degree in Music from the State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo) in 1966. She then received a BA in History in 1980, an EdM in 1987, and PhD in Elementary Education in 1990.

Musical career

While dealing with a cancer diagnosis and fight starting in 1975, during which she received nine months of chemotherapy, Johnson-Gentile became a songwriter after finding music aided in her therapy—specifically the music of

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, activist, and humanitarian whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singe ...

, whom she later met. As she survived and in the years afterwards, she then began to advocate for and teach the use of music as a rehabilitation and treatment tool—first at the

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded by surgeon Roswell Park in 1898, the center was the first in the United States to specifically focus on cancer research. The ...

in Buffalo, NY, and later while travelling to other regions. During this period she provided music therapy workshops for cancer patients, their families, and physicians. She also developed a pilot program for music therapy with the American Cancer Society based on her research. Through this work she was named one of the top “Ten Outstanding Young Women of America” in 1977. That year she was elected secretary of the

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...

New York State Division. From this work some of the songs she composed for guitar and voice appeared on a full-length album, entitled ''Faith, Hope, Love …'', which she produced after a series of cancer awareness concerts in New York State. To support her album and as a part of her advocacy for music therapy, Johnson-Gentile performed in concert in various places across the US.

Teaching career

During the 1980s, she formed a duo with her husband J. Ronald Gentile, recording an additional CD —''Genteel Songs and Poems for Genteel People (Adult Music for Children and Children's Music for Adults''.) These were done in support of a series of workshops they performed on integrating music into elementary-school curricula. While performing together, the duo went by the name The Genteels. After working as an elementary school teacher, she later became an associate professor of elementary school education at Buffalo State College, teaching there from 1990 until 2003. In 2002 she received the

SUNY Chancellor's Award The State University of New York (SUNY, , ) is a system of public colleges and universities in the State of New York. It is one of the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States. Led by c ...

for Excellence in Teaching. Her research included Cooperative Learning, Using Conflict Resolution in the Elementary Schools, and studying the role of music in the primary schools in Australia.

Books

In 2016, she published her memoir ''My Walk of Faith, Hope, and Love''.

Present Occupation

Kay is presently working as a writer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson-Gentile, Kay Living people University at Buffalo alumni Buffalo State College faculty 21st-century American writers American autobiographers 20th-century American singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters American Cancer Society people American education writers Year of birth missing (living people)