Born in Ealing, London, Swern was a record producer[1] and songwriter,[2] and also wrote for television.

[4] He also devised the questions for the PopMaster quiz on Radio 2's Ken Bruce Show until this role was assumed by Neil Myners and Simon Bray.

[5] He went on to produce for many other musicians, including the Pearls,[6] Polly Brown[7] and R&J Stone,[8] whose "We Do It", released in 1976, reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.

[9] In 1972, he formed the studio group Blue Haze with Johnny Arthey; their reggae cover version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" reached number 27 on the U.S.

[10][11] Swern had the world's only complete collection of every UK Top 40 chart hit since records began in 1952.