Anthony Philip Swern, or “Phil,” was an English radio producer and record producer. He was an avid music collector who spent more than half a century producing music and programs for the airwaves. Anthony Philip Swern was born on 30 June 1948 in Ealing, London. At a young age, his love for music and radio guided him into a lifelong career.
What was the illness of Phil Swern?
On 26 August 2024, Swern presented his Bank Holiday special Phil Swern’s Hidden Gems on Boom Radio, which proved to be his last radio broadcast, as he died five days later after suffering from cancer for a long time, at the age of 76 on 31 August 2024.
Which shows did Phil Swern record?
Every chart hit, please. From around 1973, Phil went on to write and produce dozens of hits by acts including The Pearls, R & J Stone, Blue Haze, Horace Faith, The Seashells, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Duane Eddy, and Manhattan Transfer. He also wrote and produced Polly Brown’s big US Top 20 hit, Up In A Puff Of Smoke.
Who is Phil, the director of SWERN?
Phil Swern was born on 30 June 1948 in Ealing, London, England, UK. He was a writer and producer who had worked in That’s Showbusiness (1989), Bobby Davro on the Box (1985), and Popmaster TV (2023). Phil married Lynney. He died on 31 August 2024.
Early Career and Emergence in Music Production
The musical scene of the 1970s was lively, and that is where Phil Swern’s career started. His first recording production was with Horace Faith on “Black Pearl” in 1970 for Trojan Records. This record marked the start of a collaboration with some brilliant musicians and exciting projects. Works with artists like the Pearls, Polly Brown, and R&J Stone were examples that showed his skills in producing some memorable hits. Interestingly, R&J Stone’s 1976 single “We Do It” became a number 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart, making Swern one of the best record producers around.
Swern and Johnny Arthey formed the studio group Blue Haze in 1972. The group’s reggae-influenced cover of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” gave them huge success worldwide, with it hitting number 27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. This was also how Swern could put different musical styles together to suit different kinds of audiences.
Radio production proved to be the defining chapter of his career, during which Swern made himself a household name at BBC Radio. So dearly did the people love him that they dubbed him “The Collector” due to his unparalleled zeal for saving music history. Here, he produced iconic programs on both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, which speak so well to generations of listeners.
Broadcaster
Swern also worked for broadcaster Bob Harris. He produced Harris’s Radio 1 shows in the early 1990s and his Saturday night show for Radio 2. His attention to detail in radio production has seen to it that he has always been widely enjoyed by both professionals and listeners alike.
Besides being a part of music and radio work, Swern was involved in quiz shows; he co-wrote Pop the Question with Jeremy Beadle, and that’s Showbusiness with screenwriter Jeremy Pascall. This man showed his diversification and creativity through his new forms of music and entertainment but succeeded.
The genius of Swern in making the very popular Popmaster quiz feature for Ken Bruce on Radio 2 to make those challengingly interesting questions made this popular ingredient survive to great heights of success. Later it was done by Neil Myners and Simon Bray, but the touch to make that ultimate form of question to sustain that show was only created by Swern.
The Complete Music Collector
Phil Swern is a man born to compile music history. He compiled the only definitive collection in the world of every UK Top 40 chart hit since records began in 1952. Such an enormous effort attracted attention from other enthusiasts, but most importantly, it vindicated his passion for documenting the popular music past.
Swern’s efforts for the cause of music history did not go unnoticed. In October 2010, he was awarded a BASCA Gold Badge for a major contribution to music, which meant that he would never be forgotten in the cultural sphere.
Last Days and Legacy
Phil Swern was still going strong at his old age, despite a long battle with cancer. On 26 August 2024, he broadcast a Bank Holiday special, Phil Swern’s Hidden Gems, on Boom Radio. That was an apt end to a great career: the presentation of some musical gems not previously heard by a wider audience.
When Did Phil Swern Die?
Swern died on 31 August 2024 at the age of 76. He marked the end of an era for British radio and music production. Colleagues, listeners, and artists immediately paid tribute as people began to realize just what incomparable contributions he made in the industry.
Legacy
Life has been music in all its forms for Phil Swern—a producer, collector, and innovator who spent his life sharing this joy with others. His influence transcends even his truly remarkable body of work, inspiring generations of radio producers, musicians, and music enthusiasts to follow in his footsteps.
Swern’s legacy lives on through the programs he made, the artists he promoted, and the music he saved. To those who knew him or were touched by his work, Phil Swern will always be remembered as a true champion of music and broadcasting.
What did Phil Swern do at BBC Radio?
Phil Swern created some of the most popular BBC Radio shows: Pick of the Pops and Sounds of the 60s. He was associated with such great presenters as Brian Matthew, Bob Harris, and Ken Bruce and played a role in creating the best programs to honor music history.
Why is Phil Swern known as “The Collector”?
He was known as “The Collector” due to his collection of every UK Top 40 chart hit since records started in 1952. So devoted was he to the cause of keeping music history alive that Swern became a music legend.