"I'm just breezing along with the breeze." That was his signature song. His name was Bud Brees, the singing disc jockey.
Seymour "Bud" Brees, who lived in Cherry Hill, NJ before his recent passing, was one of Philadelphia's most popular radio
disc jockeys who not only spun records on WPEN for many years, but sang along with them.

He sang along because he could do it and do it well. Bud started out as a singer at age 12 on a New York children's show. He worked with the big bands of the 30s and 40s. Bud left the bands for radio, but continued recording as many 200 sides, selling millions of records.

He left his hometown of Brooklyn in 1951 and headed for Philly's WPEN for what amounted to a six month trial. Bud was a hit and stayed at 'PEN for 11 years.

Bud left broadcasting for several years until returning to WPEN in 1980 doing the noon to 3 pm shift on the station's Sunday roster. That gig lasted until 1987.

(Left to right) Bud Brees and Bandleader Woody Herman
1986

Bud's colorful career included a stint as the singing drill sergeant in World War Two. He once recalled leading recruits in Miami Beach in singing songs like " She wore a yellow ribbon."

As a youngster Bud said he appeared on Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour five times under different names. At one point in his life, he became a top selling agent for Prudential Insurance. Among his several hit records is a Mummer's style version of "Four Leaf Clover."

Bud Brees singing at a WPEN event
circa 1986

Bud Brees, a man who blended his love of singing with his interest in broadcasting, was a true pioneer in the business. On Friday evening, November 16, 2012, Bud Brees was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Top photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers historian Gerry Wilkinson
All other Bud Brees photos and graphics donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Charlie Mills
Bio Written by member Dick Sheeran
© 2012, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com