Tony Brown, longtime host of WDAS-FM’s ‘Quiet Storm’ radio program, has died at 75
Mr. Brown had stopped hosting the program in 2018 for health reasons, shortly after WDAS had a 45th anniversary celebration for him in October 2017.
Tony Brown, a well-known Philadelphia radio host who helmed WDAS 105.3 FM’s popular Quiet Storm evening program for more than four decades, died Wednesday after a long illness, the station said.
“It is with great sadness that the 105.3 WDAS family announces today that the legendary Tony Brown has passed at the age of 75,” the station wrote in a Facebook posting Wednesday.
“Tony was a stalwart on-air for WDAS for over 45 years, and was a staple in the Philadelphia market for close to 47 years.”
Brown, who was born in 1945, had also worked at Temple University’s radio station, WRTI 90.1-FM, and WUSL 98.9 FM (Power 99), in addition to his years at WDAS.
The station said he “will forever be a part of the fabric of who we are.”
“He was part of a generation of DJs that came out of WRTI when it was an all-jazz format and had a strong community focus,” said Linn Washington, a journalism professor at Temple University.
“Tony was very approachable. He was a nice guy and didn’t wear his ego on his sleeve. He had a high place but he had his feet on the ground.”
Brown stopped hosting Quiet Storm in 2018 for health reasons, shortly after WDAS had a 45th anniversary celebration for him in October 2017.
His death came days after that of another iconic Philadelphia radio legend, Cody Anderson, former WDAS general manager and co-host of radio programs at WURD 96.1 FM/900 AM, who died , Feb. 20 of complications of COVID-19.
In 2019, the Philadelphia Tribune reported that Brown had suffered a series of strokes the previous year, and that while he had been on medical leave, he was no longer returning to host the program.
Scores of fans responded with condolences to the WDAS posting.
One of them, Trish Jones, wrote: “He was one of the best DJs ever! No one, and I do mean no one, can ever take his place. — R.I.P. Tony, sending my heartfelt condolences and love to your family.”
Two days ago, Brown’s wife, Sunshine, issued a post on Facebook, asking for prayers:
“Please continue to keep Tony lifted,” she wrote.