Longtime Philadelphia radio DJ Pierre Robert dead at 70: Heavy hearts today

Longtime radio DJ Pierre Robert, a staple across the Philadelphia airwaves for almost half a century, has died.He was 70.Robert, pronounced “Ro-Bear” was found dead at his home on Wednesday, according to his station, WMMR’s parent company Beasley Media Group.No foul play is suspected in his death, but further details were not released.“We all have heavy hearts today,” Beasley Media Group CEO Caroline Beasley said.

“Pierre’s unwavering love for music and his deep connection with listeners made him one of radio’s most enduring and beloved voices.He will be greatly missed.”Robert, born William Pierre Robert, was raised in California and got his start as a radio DJ on San Francisco’s KSAN rock station before heading east.His legendary career with WMMR spanned over 44 years, beginning in 1981 and became a constant voice for listeners in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware and parts of Maryland.The “Pierre Robert Show” broadcast daily from 10:30 a.m.

to 2 p.m.Mondays through Fridays with his famous welcome, “Greetings, Citizens.” He covered all things rock ‘n’ roll from the classics to local talent.In one of his final Instagram posts on Sunday, Robert shared a photo of himself reading a book and drinking a coffee on a park bench.“Sunday afternoon in Philly in my beloved Rittenhouse Square, with a great book, a cup of La Colombe, watching the world lazily drift by… pretty close to perfection!” he wrote.Fellow disc jockeys Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison, who opened WMMR’s morning ahead of Robert with the “Preston and Steve Show,” remembered their “dear friend” after his death.“WMMR was his pulpit, and he preached the gospel of rock n’ roll, and gave us all common ground to dance on,” the duo wrote on Instagram.

“In good times, his optimism was infectious, and on tough days, his words offered familiar comfort to every Good Citizen.“Pierre opened his arms to anyone [sic] wanted to come along...