Tell Me Something Good: Remembering Phil Markert

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — His brother’s home movies bring back the moment Phil Markert launched Colorful Channel 9, on the ninth day of the ninth month of 1962.

That moment also launched one of Central New York’s most beloved personalities.

Phil came from jobs in Rockford, Illinois, and Elmira, but it was here at home that the Syracuse native really hit stride.

And the first words spoken were ‘A cat has nine lives,’ which was my way of starting Channel 9. A cat has nine lives. A baby’s gestation period is nine months. This is September 9th.

Phil Markert

It was his sense of humor and impish glint in his eye that endeared him to audiences, most notably on chat shows like “The Markert Place,” where he’d welcome everyone from stars appearing at the fabled Three Rivers Inn to neighbors from all walks of life.

After Channel 9, Phil became one of the area’s top morning radio personalities, starting in the early seventies on Powerhouse 62-WHEN, where he was famous for playing the piano and singing the school lunch menu.

Typical radio humor. Talk dirty. Play the hits, and established this silly ‘Buy It or Bag It’ thing which been a hallmark. I see that on my tombstone, which is kind of a funny way to remember me.

Phil Markert

He played piano all over town and was one of the all-time great storytellers, usually telling on himself… admitting he’d occasionally pull into the radio station just a little late.

We’ll, I’d be coming from a card game, which was all night long, and they’d deal the last hand and the next thing you know, I’m on the air, and they’d say ‘Wait a minute. He was just sitting here, playing a full house! Ha!

Phil Markert

Phil tried moving to warmer climes over the years. He acted in films like David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” and “Marie” with Sissy Spacek. He loved his family dearly for following him on his adventures. But he always came back home. He kept doing radio well past retirement age. And to the end, he was still making people laugh, and still booking gigs on the piano.

Generations of fans can’t think of Phil Markert without a smile on their face. And here in his hometown, that may be his greatest legacy.

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