Radio 2 star and PopMaster creator Phil Swern has died aged 76: Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce lead heartfelt tributes to their ‘great friend’
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Radio 2 star and PopMaster creator Phil Swern has died at the age of 76 after a ‘long illness’.
Many of his famous friends, including Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce, were the first to pay tribute to their ‘great friend’ after hearing of his shocking death.
Ken shared his grief on X, writing: ‘It’s a very sad day as my good friend Phil Swern has passed away.
‘Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. He had an extensive career as a record and radio producer, creator of TV formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of Popmaster.
‘He was a one-man fountain of pop knowledge. He started collecting records as a boy and showed the same enthusiasm well into his seventies.
Radio 2 star and PopMaster creator Phil Swern has died at the age of 76 (photo in 2020)
‘Without him there would be no Popmaster, on radio or TV. He leaves a big hole in my life and in the lives of so many.’
Tony also wrote: ‘I am saddened to report that my dear friend of over 60 years and producer of @BBCRadio2 Sound of the Sixties passed away yesterday afternoon after a long illness.
‘I am so glad I got to see him and his wife Lynsey last Friday. Phil, the Collector, Swern will be missed by us all.’
PopMaster’s official X account broke the news to fans on Sunday morning with an emotional tribute.
It read: ‘Sadly, today we said goodbye to Phil Swern, the collector who was the driving force behind Popmaster’s content for many years.
“His wife Lyndsey was by his side. His favorite song was Nat King Coles, What a Wonderful World. We will miss our dear husband.”
Early in his career, Phil produced Pick Of The Pops on Radio 1 in the late 80s and early 90s.
After his appearance on Radio 1, Phil hosted the programme on Radio 2 from 1997 to 2023.
His successful career is also characterised by producing Sound Of The 60s for 17 years.