Gene & Francesca

Gene & Francesca was a folk music duo consisting of Eugene "Gene" Raskin and his wife Francesca. They were active mainly in the early 1960s, performing in clubs around Greenwich Village in New York and releasing albums including "International Folk Songs, Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2." Gene Raskin was a multifaceted artist—an architect, author, adjunct professor at Columbia University, and playwright—but he is best remembered for adapting the Russian folk melody "Dorogoj Dlinnoyu" with English lyrics as "Those Were the Days." This song gained international fame when recorded by Mary Hopkin and produced by Paul McCartney.

As a performing duo, Gene & Francesca interpreted international folk music with a warm and authentic style that drew on their shared passion for traditional tunes. Their work helped bring folk melodies from around the world to a wider audience during the folk revival era, supported by their albums on Elektra Records and other labels. Gene's unique background combined with Francesca's partnership made them a memorable presence in the folk scene of their time.