TONY Blackburn has issued an emotional tribute to his fellow Radio 2 star and “dear friend” who has died aged 76.
The veteran BBC DJ, 81, broke the news of radio producer Phil Swern’s death on Sunday.
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The Radio 2 producer has sadly passed away at the age of 76 Credits: BBC
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Music producer and collector Phil Swern named ‘The Collector’Credit: X/@tonyblackburn
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He passed away after a ‘long illness’Credit: X/@boomradiouk
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Tony said his wife will be ‘sorely missed’Credit: You Tube/ Tony Blackburn
Tony told how Phil, dubbed ‘The Collector’, had suffered a ‘long illness’ before his death – but reassured fans that his wife was by his side during his final farewell.
In an emotional statement, he said: “I am so sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years, Phil The Collector Swern, passed away yesterday after a long illness.
“He was well respected in the music business for his musical knowledge and professionalism, but above all he was a lovely kind and funny man.
“I was so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey on Friday and was able to speak to him. He passed away at home with his wife Lynsey by his side looking after him.
“I love her and his family, we will all miss them very much.”
Phil worked on Sounds of the 60s with Brian Matthew and Tony.
In the show, he was nicknamed the Collector.
He was also the “driving force” behind the content of Ken Bruce’s popular radio show that became a TV program, Popmaster.
Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken, 73, wrote on his X page: “This is the saddest day of all as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away.
“Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. He had a huge career as a recording artist and radio producer, creator of TV formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of Popmaster.
Ken Bruce presents the former radio show Popmasters TV on More4
“He was a self-contained source of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still showing the same enthusiasm in his seventies.
“Without him there would be no Popmaster, on radio or television. He leaves a huge void in my life and in the lives of so many people.”
Popmaster, who switched to an on-screen format on Popmaster TV, then delivered his own dedication.
His page on X reads: “Sadly, today we say goodbye to Phil Swern, a collector who has been the driving force behind Popmaster’s content for years.
“His wife Lyndsey was by his side.
“His favorite song was Nat King Coles, What a Wonderful World. We will miss our gentle man.”
Ken managed to bring the format to Channel 4 after leaving Radio 2 this year to host the commercial station’s Greatest Hits show.
He said: “After all these years we are finally bringing PopMaster to television, where we will challenge music lovers from across the country.
“I can’t wait to get started and find out if maybe I have a face for TV after all.”
Ken also revealed that he and producer Phil tried to get the BBC to show PopMaster, but the broadcaster wasn’t interested.
Meanwhile, Phil, who holds a BASCA Gold Badge for his work in the music industry, also produced Pick of the Pops for Radio 1 in the 1980s.
He also worked on Capital Radio’s show, You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet.
Just last week he aired his own Hidden Treasures show on Boom Radio.
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Phil worked on Sounds of the 60s with broadcasting legend Tony Credit: You Tube/ Tony Blackburn
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Former Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce paid tribute at XCredit: PA
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Ken said ‘without Phil there would be no Popmaster’Credit: PA
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