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PopMaster co-creator Phil Swern dies aged 76

BBC Radio 2 producer and PopMaster co-creator Phil Swern has died aged 76.

Ken Bruce paid tribute to his friend who helped to invent the much-loved game.

He said in a post on X: “It’s the saddest of days as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away. Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. 

“He had a vast career as a record and radio producer, deviser of TV formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of PopMaster.

“He was a one-man fount of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still displaying the same enthusiasm into his seventies. Without him, there would be no PopMaster, on radio or TV. He leaves a giant gap in my life and in the lives of so many.” 

Bruce said that he died at home with his wife by his side on Saturday afternoon.

Announcing the news on Facebook, 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 very respected in the music business for his music 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 have a final chat with him. He passed away at home with his wife Lynsey who has been at his side looking after him. My love goes out to her and his family we will all miss him very much.”

A spokesperson for BBC Radio 2 said in a statement: “Everyone at Radio 2 is saddened to hear the news that Phil Swern has passed away. He was an extremely talented producer whose career at Radio 2 spanned many years. He was a much loved colleague with an unparalleled knowledge of music. Our thoughts are with his family.” 

A post from the official PopMaster account said: “Sadly today, we said goodbye to Phil Swern, the Collector for many years the driving force behind PopMaster’s content.

“His wife Lyndsey was at his side. His favourite song was Nat King Cole’s, What a Wonderful World. We will miss our gentle man.” 

Also paying tribute, musician Bob Stanley wrote: “Goodbye Phil Swern, who produced hundreds of hours of my favourite radio shows (Sounds Of The 60s, Pick Of The Pops).

“He also had an eye-wateringly large record collection, so big it was housed in a former church. On top of that, he wrote this belter”, Stanley said as he shared a link to Polly Brown’s 1974 song Up in a Puff of Smoke.

 

 

Cover of the PopMaster quiz book by Phil Swern and Neil Myners with an introduction by Ken Bruce

In a past interview with Long Live Vinyl, Swern spoke about his wide record collection.

He said: “I don’t know if it’s the biggest collection in the world, it’s hard to say as there are so many collectors out there, but it is probably one of the biggest collections in Europe.”