Pierre Robert, Harry Donahue remembered for their legendary radio careers

Philadelphia has bid farewell to two broadcasting giants, Pierre Robert and Harry Donahue, leaving behind a legacy of decades-long careers that touched the hearts of countless fans.

Pierre Robert, who passed away at his Gladwyne home, had been hosting WMMR's midday show for an impressive 44 years. The disc jockey was known for his eclectic musical tastes and generous nature, which earned him a loyal following among music enthusiasts. His segments 'On This Day' and 'Pierre's Vinyl Cut,' showcased the history of rock n' roll, paying homage to artists and songs that shaped the genre. Robert's death at 70 has been met with an outpouring of tributes from those who cherished his work.

Jon Bon Jovi recently paid a heartfelt tribute to Robert on social media, describing him as a "great friend" whose voice helped feed the hungry and homeless. He reminisced about Robert's curious nature, his love for local artists, and his commitment to musicology.

Robert, a San Francisco native, joined WMMR in 1981 after leaving a radio station. He became known for his distinctive greetings and recognizable look, shoulder-length hair, and beard. The disc jockey hosted several charity events, including AIDS Walk Philly and Manna's Pie in the Sky fundraiser, before signing a four-year contract extension last year.

Meanwhile, Harry Donahue, a Philadelphia native who passed away after battling cancer, left an indelible mark on the city's broadcasting scene. He spent 35 years as a morning news anchor for KYW Newsradio, providing updates on everything from sports to traffic to snow day announcements until his retirement in 2014.

Donahue was also the voice of Temple University basketball and football, calling his first games in 1984 and 1987 respectively. He became an integral part of Comcast SportsNet's 'Inside Golf' show and occasionally covered Eagles preseason games. The broadcasting legend was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Temple Athletics has expressed their deep sadness at Donahue's passing, describing him as a "Philadelphia broadcasting legend" whose passion and pride for the university brought joy to fans across the city. Kevin Copp, Temple's current play-by-play announcer, called Donahue one of the voices of his childhood, stating that he feels a responsibility to live up to the standard set by the legendary broadcaster.

As tributes continue to pour in from artists and colleagues alike, it is clear that Pierre Robert and Harry Donahue will be deeply missed. Their contributions to Philadelphia's broadcasting scene have left a lasting impact on fans and will forever be remembered as iconic voices of the city's sports and music communities.

man these two guys were like legends in philly they both had such amazing careers and touched so many lives its crazy that jon bon jovi is paying tribute to pierre robert like he was more than just a friend to him pierre's 'on this day' segment was always so fascinating, i loved how he'd highlight these obscure rock songs that we never knew about and harry donahue was the ultimate sports guy his voice is still echoing in my head when i think of temple uni games it's so sad that they're both gone but their legacy lives on

man this is crazy two legends gone i'm not gonna lie, i miss those guys already they were more than just radio hosts, they were like part of the family especially pierre robert, his segments on wmmr were so underrated he was all about sharing that cool history stuff and his love for music was infectious what's with people saying this is the end of an era? like what's next gonna happen to philly's radio scene? can't help but wonder if there'll be a rebirth or just more filler hosts

I'm so sad to see these two legends go . It's crazy to think about Pierre Robert being on the air for 44 years that's just insane! He was more than just a DJ, he was like a friend to all the artists and fans who grew up listening to him . And Harry Donahue's voice is still echoing in our heads, calling out Temple Sports games ️. We're gonna miss their presence, but it's clear that they left a lasting legacy that we'll always cherish . They may be gone, but their music and sports will live on forever ️

Just heard about the passing of Pierre Robert ... 44 years at WMMR is crazy! He was more than just a DJ, he was like a guardian of Philly's rock n' roll history. His passion for local artists and generous spirit earned him so many fans. And Jon Bon Jovi's tribute was super sweet . Can't believe Harry Donahue is gone too ... 35 years at KYW Newsradio is an incredible achievement. He brought the city sports news to life in a way that made you feel like you were right there in the stadium . Both of these Philly legends will be deeply missed, but their legacy lives on

man these 2 guys were legends they brought so much joy and music into ppl's lives for decades Pierre's passion for rock n roll was infectious and Harry's news anchor skills were always reliable I'm sure their legacy will live on thru the new gen of broadcasters and music fans who grew up listening to them it's crazy how they're already being remembered as iconic voices of Philly, it's a big deal

man those guys were legends wmmr's midday show was so much more than just tunes it was an experience thanks to pierre's passion & knowledge he had a way of makin' you feel like u were hangin out with a cool uncle who loved rock n roll ‍ and his charity work was real talk harry donahue was the voice of philly sports for so long it's crazy to think about how much we missed him after he retired temple athletics is gonna miss him too, i mean who else could make coverin' sports sound as excitin' as kevin copp does now anyway, let's just take a sec to appreciate the legacy of pierre & harry they left us with some amazing memories

Oh man, I'm so sad to hear about these two broadcasting legends leaving us! Pierre Robert was such an awesome guy - his energy and love for music were infectious . It's crazy that he got to share his passion with Philly fans for 44 years straight - that's dedication ! And Jon Bon Jovi's tribute is so heartfelt, it really shows how much Robert meant to him . On the other side of town, Harry Donahue was like a voice of reason and excitement when it came to sports and news . He had this way of making you feel all pumped up for the game or important updates . It's so cool that Temple Athletics is gushing over him - he truly was an iconic Philly broadcaster . I guess what I'm saying is, these two will be deeply missed by all of us who loved listening to them , but their legacy lives on through the music and sports they covered

Man, 44 years is crazy for Pierre Robert hosting WMMR's midday show... he must've seen so much change in Philly's music scene. And Jon Bon Jovi just paid a beautiful tribute to him on social media it shows how much respect the guy got from people who knew him.

And Harry Donahue, man... 35 years as a morning news anchor? That's some longevity and he still managed to cover sports, traffic, and snow days till his retirement in '14. It's crazy to think about all the Philly events he covered over the years

It's so sad that they're both gone now... but their legacies will live on through the people they touched with their work I'm gonna miss hearing Pierre Robert's eclectic tunes and Harry Donahue's voice calling Temple basketball games

I'm so sad to see two broadcasting legends like Pierre Robert and Harry Donahue leave us... I remember listening to WMMR back in the day, Pierre's show was always a highlight for me, his eclectic taste in music and generosity of spirit made him a beloved figure in Philly. And who could forget that distinctive voice of Harry Donahue? He had this way of making you feel like he was right there with you, sharing in all the excitement of sports and news.

It's amazing how these two men touched so many lives over their decades-long careers... Their legacy is a testament to the power of broadcasting to bring people together and create lasting memories. I'm grateful for the countless hours they spent on air, entertaining, informing, and inspiring us all. We'll miss them dearly

man... can't believe those two legends are gone ... pierre robert was more than just a disc jockey, he had this energy about him that made you wanna stay tuned in every day. his love for music and its history was infectious, and it's crazy how much he contributed to the city's culture. and harry donahue, wow, what a guy... he was like the voice of philly sports, always there to bring us the news and updates we needed. it's wild that he's leaving behind such a legacy at temple athletics too ... but you know what really gets me? how many people are still talking about these guys decades after they left the airwaves? that says something about their impact on our city, imo

man, these two dudes were legends ! i mean, can u believe they've been gone for like, over 40 years? pierre robert was all about spreading love and positivity through his show, and it's amazing how he touched so many lives with just one voice . and harry donahue, oh man... the guy was a true Philly icon , bringing sports and news to our screens for decades. what i love is that they both left us with such an incredible legacy , and it's clear that we'll always remember them as two of the greatest voices in philly broadcasting history . anyway, let's keep celebrating their lives and work, 'cause that's what it's all about

I don’t usually comment but I feel so sad when I hear about people passing away. These two, Pierre Robert and Harry Donahue, were like legends in Philly's broadcasting scene . 44 years and 35 years respectively is a huge amount of time to touch so many hearts and lives, that’s crazy! Their love for music and sports was super inspiring and I can see why people loved tuning into their shows every day . They might not be with us anymore but their legacy will live on in the city's broadcasting scene, and that's something to celebrate .

aww, just heard about these 2 legends ... Pierre Robert & Harry Donahue leaving us with their awesome vibes . It's crazy to think that Pierre hosted WMMR for 44 yrs and Harry did KYW Newsradio for 35 yrs . Their love for music & sports is still inspiring new gens . And can we talk about Jon Bon Jovi's tribute to Pierre? such a beautiful gesture! Kevin Copp's words about wanting to live up to Donahue's standard are so true . We'll definitely miss these 2 broadcasting legends, but their legacy will keep on shining bright

just found out about Pierre & Harry they were legends in Philly! Pierre was always so chill & friendly, I remember watching his segments at WMMR he made you feel like you were part of something special the way he'd share those stories about rock n' roll history... it was like a time capsule still gets me thinking about all the old faves he played back in the day Harry Donahue's voice is still so iconic, love how Temple Athletics is still honoring his legacy Kevin Copp is gonna have some big shoes to fill!

omg u no wut i just lerned? philly lost 2 broadcasting legends!!! Pierre Robert & Harry Donahue were like, the best! Pierre had a midday show 4 like 44 yrs @ WMMR & was all about eclectic music, he even did segments on rock n roll history & Jon Bon Jovi is soooo sad he's paying tribute to him on social media Harry Donahue was a morning news anchor 4 like 35 yrs @ KYW Newsradio & had the most iconic voice ever its def gonna be sad 2 c wut space he lef

Man... 2 legends gone . I mean, can you believe Pierre Robert had been hosting that midday show at WMMR for 44 years?! That's crazy talk! He was more than just a DJ, he was like a part of the family, ya know? And Jon Bon Jovi's tribute was so heartwarming . I remember listening to 'Pierre's Vinyl Cut' and feeling like I was getting this entire history lesson on rock n' roll. And Harry Donahue... 35 years at KYW Newsradio? That's just crazy! He was the voice of Temple University, and still is in spirit I guess. It's wild how these guys left an indelible mark on Philly's broadcasting scene . Anyway, RIP Pierre & Harry - we'll miss 'em

just heard about this - so sad , two Philly legends gone but their legacy lives on in our hearts , i remember listening to Pierre Robert's midday show back in the day (he had that awesome 'on this day' segment) and it was like a trip down music history, every time he'd play an old school rock n roll song you knew it was gonna be good . don't know much about Harry Donahue but hearing him was always a part of growing up in Philly, from sports news to covering Eagles games - sounds like we're all going to miss his voice . anyway, what's your fave memory of Pierre Robert or Harry Donahue?

just another reason why I wish we could've met Pierre Robert... his legacy lives on through all the memories he created for us , & it's beautiful to see people like Jon Bon Jovi paying tribute to him . And I'm glad they're giving Harry Donahue the respect he deserved, 35 years of service is no joke . Rest in peace both of you

man i'm still gettin emotional thinkin bout these two broadcasting legends ... like, can u believe they're gone? 44 yrs Pierre Robert was bringin his eclectic vibes to WMMR and now he's gone, leavin behind a legacy that'll be remembered for ages. Harry Donahue was a true philly legend, callin out sports games and news with such passion and energy it's like he's still with us in spirit . both of 'em touched so many lives and their contributions to our city will never be forgotten . gotta respect the men who gave their all to bring us the music and sports we love .