by Alex Lloyd Gross
People all over the region are continuing to post tributes to one of Philadelphia’s iconic radio personalities:, Pierre Robert. He died suddenly this week and leaves a legacy of music and interviews. Who could turn a simple afternoon into a trip down memory lane. On WMMR , where he worked for 40 years, people that worked with him constantly said he loved his job. He never worked a day in his life. He simply got paid to be on the radio.
It’s different when a musician like Ozzy or Ace Frehley dies. Those people are musicians, and they are very talented. However they come to town every so often, maybe every year. They are not from here. Pierre was. People could call him on the request line and he would chat with them. Compliment or complaint? Pierre would listen. Going out to a show? People would constantly walk up to him to say hello. With the advent of camera phones, people would ask him for selfies. He would always oblige.
Pierre was approachable and he developed friendships with people . On air he gave out countless concert tickets to people. He was a part of the WMMRArmy, always helping with promotions.
On the air he loved the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Graham Nash even called into the station to say a few words. If he was playing a band he did not care for, he was always respectful, as someone else did. . On Halloween, he loved playing scary songs and on Thanksgiving, He played Alice’s Restaurant, the original version, the newer one . It was usually done at 10:00 AM, Noon and 2:00 PM. Pierre was a a personality that brought you into his life. He is gone and will never be replaced. Fans can visit his plaque on South Broad Street, which was gifted him by the Philadelphia Music Alliance.