Legendary BBC Radio producer and PopMaster quiz co-creator Phil Swern has passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of music knowledge and creativity that has touched the hearts of many in the industry.
Radio presenters Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce were among the first to pay tribute to their dear friend, with Blackburn expressing his sadness over the loss of someone he had known for over 60 years. Swern, affectionately known as ‘The Collector’, was praised for his professionalism, music knowledge, and above all, his kind and funny personality.
Swern’s love for music stemmed from his childhood, where he would eagerly collect records that had ever charted. This passion led him to become a driving force behind the popular PopMaster quiz, which featured on BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce Show. Bruce described Swern as a brilliantly inventive man with a vast career in record and radio production, TV format devising, and of course, as the co-creator of PopMaster.
The news of Swern’s passing has left a void in the hearts of many in the music industry, but his memory and contributions will continue to live on through the music he loved and the quiz he helped create. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
