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Pierre Robert (radio personality)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pierre Robert
Robert (left) in 2011
Born
William Pierre Robert

(1955-08-01)August 1, 1955
Truckee, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 29, 2025(2025-10-29) (aged 70)
Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career
ShowThe Pierre Robert Show
Station93.3 WMMR in Philadelphia
Time slotaround 11:00am - 3:00pm Monday-Friday
StyleDisc jockey, radio personality
CountryUnited States
Websitewww.wmmr.com/shows/pierre-robert

William Pierre Robert (/ˈroʊˈbɛər/; August 1, 1955 – October 29, 2025) was an American radio disc jockey and on-air personality for WMMR in Philadelphia. He spent 44 years with the station from 1981 until his death in 2025.

Robert was a conspicuous WMMR personality, sometimes described as a hippie by locals. He often addressed listeners as "citizens", and saying "great day in the morning!"

Robert interviewed several figures in the American rock music industry. He was held in high esteem by rock musicians and groups, including Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Grohl, and Eddie Vedder, many of whom granted Robert rare interviews or appeared in person on his program.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Pierre Robert was born August 1, 1955, in Truckee, California.

Career

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Robert began his radio career at 94.9 KSAN-FM in San Francisco, one of the country's first progressive rock stations. When KSAN changed its format to an Urban Country and Western format in the early 1980s, Robert assumed the on-air name "Will Robertson" for a brief period of time because he was opposed to the new format.[4]

Not long after, Robert drove a friend to school in Philadelphia in his 1970 Volkswagen van, nicknamed Minerva.[5] He sent 93.3 WMMR a demo tape but was initially turned down for a position with the station, and took a job at Essene, a health food store and vegetarian restaurant. He later had a reading by a palm reader on South Street, who told him, "you're gonna get a letter very soon".[citation needed] He returned to find a letter from Joe Bonadonna, then WMMR's station manager, indicating there was an opening. Robert joined WMMR in 1981.

Robert held several positions at WMMR, including broadcasting during morning, overnight, and midday shifts. His latest time slot was from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., though his program occasionally started late or ran longer, an anomaly he referred to as "Pierre Standard Time."

Features of his show included the "Coffee Break Music Marathon", "Pierre's Planner", and the “Work Force Blocks”, during which he played three or four songs by a particular artist based on listener requests.

Robert also featured the "Vinyl Cut", where he played a track from one of the many vinyl records in the WMMR archive.

He was also known to play all 18 minutes of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" multiple times during his annual Thanksgiving broadcast.

Robert said he did not follow Philadelphia sports, despite the city’s major sports fandom. He typically referred to all Philadelphia sports teams as "The Boys in Blue" regardless of the actual team colors. As a running joke, he was known to say the phrase "Sports Up!", mostly during his overlap towards the end of the Preston and Steve show in the morning.[6]

In January 2024, Robert signed a multi-year contract extension with WMMR.[7]

Death

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Robert was found dead at his home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania on October 29, 2025 at the age of 70.[8][9]

Notable events

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Robert's 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia nicknamed "Minerva 2"
  • Robert's first VW micro-bus "Minerva" was impounded by the Philadelphia Parking Authority and later crushed in a junkyard.
  • Robert was known for often declaring on the air, "God Bless the Grateful Dead." At the beginning of their concert at the Spectrum on October 7, 1994, Robert presented the Grateful Dead with a flag recognizing their 50th performance at the venue.
  • In 2001, WMMR threw a party at the Spectrum for Robert's 20th anniversary, and gave him a 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia to replace his old 1970 VW mini-bus. The new bus was named "Minerva 2" in honor of the original Minerva, which he drove from California to Philadelphia.
  • In 2002, "Minerva 2" was driven by Robert in the 93.3 WMMR Ozz-Fund, a four-day fundraiser to collect money for the Fox Chase Cancer Center in the name of Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne. Robert drove all over the Delaware Valley collecting donations from fans and station listeners.[10]
  • Throughout the first 25 days of November 2006, WMMR paid tribute to Robert for his 25 years of service to the station.[11]
  • In November 2011, Bob Beru of Beru Revue played a show at The World Cafe Live in honor of Robert's 30th year with WMMR.[12]
  • In September 2012, the owners of the building that houses WMMR threatened to have "Minerva 2" towed. The car was in fairly rough shape with flat tires, holes in the floorboard, and a broken window. After considering all the options, Robert was approached by CollisionMax about restoring Minerva. Minerva was completely restored by CollisionMax with custom airbrushing done by Franny Drummond of PaintZoo. Rich Tornetta, CollisionMax's director of marketing, recorded weekly videos documenting the repair work done on the VW bus.[13][14][15]
  • In October 2019, Robert was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame along with The Hooters, a rock band from Philadelphia and one of Robert's favorites.[16]
  • In 2021, to celebrate his 40th year with WMMR, the studio that houses the station was renamed the "Pierre Robert Studio".

References

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  1. ^ Fiorillo, Victor (2025-10-30). "Philly Today: Bon Jovi Remembers His Friend Pierre Robert". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  2. ^ "Dave Grohl on the Dynamic Sound of the Foo Fighters". 93.3 WMMR. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  3. ^ "FLASHBACK: A Rare Interview with Eddie Vedder". 93.3 WMMR. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  4. ^ What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?
  5. ^ December 2011 Philadelphia Magazine
  6. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  7. ^ "Pierre Robert Extends His Contract with WMMR", WMMR, January 4, 2024
  8. ^ "Legendary 93.3 WMMR radio personality Pierre Robert has died". 6abc Philadelphia. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  9. ^ "Philadelphia Rock Radio Icon Pierre Robert Dies at 70". Radio World. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. ^ 93.3 WMMR Ozz-Fund | A Four-Day Fundraiser for Fox Chase Cancer Center
  11. ^ WMMR Presents Pierre Robert 25 Years in 25 Days
  12. ^ "Pierre Robert's 30th Anniversary Party". Archived from the original on 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  13. ^ WMMR's Pierre Robert Meets Fran Drummond of PaintZoo
  14. ^ The Minerva Project
  15. ^ THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING WHAT’S UNNECESSARY
  16. ^ White, Abbey (7 August 2019). "Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame: 2019 class announced, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and Pierre Robert". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
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