It is with great sadness that we share more hard news with you this week.

Longtime WWOZ show host Ron Phillips has passed, suddenly.

On Tuesday, he enjoyed an evening out with friends and had a wonderful time, and when he returned home he had a sudden heart attack and died.

Ron has been a show host at WWOZ for almost ten years, serving as a substitute host for several years, before settling into Saturday mornings as the host of Weekend New Orleans from 10 am to 12 noon. Ron loved music, especially New Orleans music, and cared deeply about WWOZ and his show, always trying to connect to his listeners on more than just a surface level. He worked hard on the air to encourage positivity, especially during the pandemic this last year. He was devoted to his mother Joyce in North Carolina, and featured her recently on his show, via a phone call on her birthday.

He will be missed by his friends, and by his WWOZ family, and he will be remembered well. Our thoughts go out to his family, and to all who knew him.

Below, a few photos from his time with WWOZ: