The city of Philadelphia is in mourning following the passing of one of its favorite sons, Pierre Robert. For more than four decades, his familiar voice and genuine, deep love for rock and roll were the heart and soul of 93.3 WMMR. From his signature “Greetings Citizens!” salutation to his beloved “Vinyl Cut” and his tireless charitable work, Pierre was more than just a disc jockey — he was the embodiment of the best of the human spirit and his presence impacted the lives of generations of listeners.
“We all have heavy hearts today,” said Caroline Beasley, CEO of Beasley Media Group, parent company of 93.3 WMMR. “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.
“Without question, his legacy transcends his work on the Philly airwaves and will forever be felt in the countless lives he touched with his music, humor, and unwavering empathy.”
WHYY’s Peter Crimmins has more on Robert’s passing here.
To pay tribute to his undeniable impact on the city, here are 10 Things You Should Know About Pierre Robert.
His government name is William Pierre Robert
While he would become a Philly icon with an on-air moniker, his government name was actually William Pierre Robert. Although many believed that his name was a part of his radio persona, it was a shortened version of his given name.
He was a native of California
Robert launched his legendary radio career at 94.9 KSAN-FM in San Francisco (now KSAN “107.7 The Bone”), one of the first radio stations in the country dedicated to playing progressive rock. After the station switched to an Urban Country and Western format, Robert arrived in Philadelphia in 1981 with everything he owned in his 1970 Volkswagen microbus. Driving with bald tires in what he affectionately called “Minerva,” the Philadelphia music scene would never be the same.
He was initially rejected by WMMR
Amazingly, Robert didn’t immediately land with WMMR. After he was turned down for an on-air position with the station, he was employed briefly at Essene, a famous health food store and vegetarian restaurant near South Street. According to legend, Robert got a palm reading and was told that he would receive a letter soon. The letter he received was an invitation to join WMMR as a DJ. The rest is history.
His listeners coined the phrase “Pierre Standard Time”
With his relaxed, on-air style that exuded hippie vibes, Robert was never too concerned about punctuality. On plenty of occasions, his midday show would start late or run over time. His listeners affectionately dubbed this phenomenon “Pierre Standard Time.”
He was a dedicated vegetarian
Robert had been a vegetarian for over 35 years, having given up meat around 1990.
He had a “No Play” list
It was no secret that Robert was serious about his “no playlist.” Most notably, Robert refused to play Guns N’ Roses on his show in 2002 after the band didn’t show up for a concert.
“I haven’t played Guns N’ Roses since 2002, when they stiffed the Philly crowd,” Robert said in an interview with Philadelphia Magazine in 2021. ”They didn’t show up for their show at what’s now the Wells Fargo Center. And the crowd broke out in a riot.”
He also publicly refused to play artists like Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Sebastian Bach due to the offensive remarks and extremist politics.
He never supported Philly sports teams
Philadelphia is one of the best sports cities in the country, but that reality could not persuade Robert to be a fan of any of the pro teams. As a running gag, he would often refer to the city’s beloved teams collectively as “The Boys in Blue,” although some never wore those particular colors.
He was inducted into the Philly Walk of Fame
Known as the “Voice of Philadelphia Rock,” in 2019, his undeniable impact on the region was forever cemented when he was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame along South Broad Street, one of the city’s most revered honors for artists.
And he wasn’t done. In fact, Robert had signed a contract to stay at WMMR in 2024.
He would play “Alice’s Restaurant” on Thanksgiving each year
As was his tradition, Robert would play the almost 19-minute version of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” and subsequent versions several times on Thanksgiving each year. Originally released in 1967, the song is a deadpan, satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft and was the inspiration behind the 1969 film Alice’s Restaurant. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, be sure to have the song queued up in Robert’s honor.
He gave back to the city
Along with his vast knowledge of rock and its accompanying subgenres, Robert was a generous philanthropist. He co-founded Manna’s Pie in the Sky fundraiser, which has raised millions of dollars for hunger relief in Philadelphia. He was also a dedicated advocate for animals and a staunch supporter of the annual AIDS Walk.
