Phil Swern | |
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| Born | Anthony Philip Swern (1948-06-30)30 June 1948 Ealing, London, England |
| Died | 31 August 2024(2024-08-31) (aged 76) |
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Anthony Philip Swern (30 June 1948 – 31 August 2024) was an English radio producer, record producer and collector.
Born inEaling, London, Swern was a record producer[1] and songwriter,[2] and also wrote for television.[3] He earned the nickname "The Collector" from working onSounds of the 60s withBrian Matthew. He producedPick of the Pops forBBC Radio 1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s and produced the show forBBC Radio 2 from 1997 to 2023. He also producedSounds of the 60s for Radio 2 from 2007 until his death and formerly produced the Saturday nightBob Harris Show for the same station, also producing Harris's Radio 1 shows in the early 1990s.[4] He also devised the questions for thePopMaster quiz on Radio 2'sKen Bruce Show until this role was assumed by Neil Myners and Simon Bray. Swern co-wrote the quiz showPop the Question withJeremy Beadle and co-created another quiz show,That's Showbusiness, with screenwriterJeremy Pascall.
His first record production work wasHorace Faith's recording of "Black Pearl" forTrojan Records in 1970.[5] He went on to produce for many other musicians, includingthe Pearls,[6]Polly Brown[7] andR&J Stone,[8] whose "We Do It", released in 1976, reached number 5 on theUK Singles Chart.[9] In 1972, he formed the studio group Blue Haze withJohnny Arthey; their reggaecover version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" reached number 27 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.[10][11]
Swern had the world's only complete collection of everyUK Top 40chart hit since records began in 1952.[12] His extensive work within the music industry led to him being awarded aBASCA Gold Badge Award in October 2010.[13][14]
On 26 August 2024, Swern presented his Bank Holiday specialPhil Swern’s Hidden Gems[15] onBoom Radio,[16] which would be his last radio show, as he died five days later following a long illness with cancer, on 31 August 2024, at the age of 76.[17][18][19]
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