R.I.P.: Philly Radio Broadcaster Robert Russo Dead At 75

Robert Russo

Robert T. Russo Sr., 75, a first baseman for a Delaware County baseball team in his youth who became a sports broadcast producer for Philadelphia radio stations, died of complications from heart problems Friday, April 26, at his home in Egg Harbor Township.

In 1967, Mr. Russo became the first producer for WIP-AM broadcasts of Eagles football games, his son, Robert T. Jr., told Philly.com.

Russo interrupted his Philadelphia career to work at the New York City radio station WHN-AM, where, his resumé states, in 1970 he became the first music director of a country-music broadcast format in the city.

Sports soon intruded.

Russo became WHN's executive producer in 1972-73 for broadcasts of baseball games by the Mets, basketball games by the Nets, and hockey games by the Islanders.

In 1975, he left radio to work as East Coast promotion director for Lifesong Records in New York City.

He returned to Philadelphia as executive producer for WIP broadcasts of Eagles football games and Flyers hockey games in 1980. In 1981, he became the station's music director.

Russo became the first producer of games by the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League in 1982. From 1982 to 1983 he was the promotions director for WSNI-FM in Philadelphia from 1982 to 1990.

From 1999 to 2001 he was program director for WRDR-FM, which broadcast a big band format from Egg Harbor, before ending his career as a sales representative for Comcast.

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