Bob Rogers (DJ)
Bob Rogers | |
|---|---|
 Bob Rogers (1958) | |
| Born | Robert Barton Rogers 3 December 1926 |
| Died | 29 May 2024(aged 97) Mosman,New South Wales,Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Disc jockey, radio announcer, television host |
| Years active | 1942–2020 |
Robert Barton RogersOAM[1][2](3 December 1926 – 29 May 2024) was an Australian disc jockey and radio broadcaster. He was noted for introducingTop 40radio programming to Australia in 1958, on2UE.[3]
Before his retirement in October 2020, Rogers presented the six-hour Saturday eveningReminiscingprogram on Sydney radio station2CH.He had previously presentedThe Bob Rogers Showon weekday mornings.[4][5]His broadcasting career lasted 78 years.[6]
Early life
[edit]Rogers was born on 3 December 1926 to British parents and raised inDonald, Victoria.[7][8][9]His father had been a junior butcher before becoming a farmer. He used to help his father round up the sheep and catch the lambs before slaughter.[10]
Career
[edit]Rogers began his career as apanel operatorfor3XYinMelbournein 1942.[citation needed]Moving onto aHobartstation, he worked six days a week as a radio announcer, including presenting racing on Saturdays. Soon, Rogers was given permission to start a Sunday afternoon music program, playing new records given to him by American sailors.[citation needed]
Rogers resigned and started a similar music program onBrisbane's4BHin 1950. In 1957, Rogers discovered theSlim Dustysong "Pub With No Beer"and was the first DJ in Australia to play the song and bring it to number one on the charts.[11]Rogers subsequently presented Australia's first Top 40 show on2UEfrom 1958 to 1962.[when?]
For the next 8 years, Rogers was Australia's top radio DJ.[7][12][13]He was tried out in a television talk show format onTCN-9,followingDaly at NightwithJonathan Daly.He later established himself as a television host, onATN-7,with a run from 1969 of over four years.[14]
In 1962 Rogers joined2SM,one of the "Good Guys" DJ team the station recruited, withMike Walshand others;[15]2SM jumped in the ratings to number 1. In 1964 Rogers was chosen to represent 2SM onThe Beatles' tour through Europe, Asia and Australia. He made radio interviews with them in June.[16][17]
Rogers returned to 2UE and presented his morning radio show with a new format of provocative commentary, gossip and music. His programme became popular amongst interview-hungry artists.[12][13]In 1976, Rogers wroteRock And Roll Australia,a book about the birth of the Australian rock industry.[11]In 1982, he started a chain of women's dress shops.[11]
In October 1976, Rogers joined2GB,[18]but his time with the station was short-lived. While compering the 2GB morning program, in June 1977, Rogers was sacked, after he failed to use the seven-second-delay button, during an on-air conversation withJohn Singleton.Singleton's use of a 'four-letter word' was broadcast. The topic of conversation was Rogers' imminent change of time slot to an afternoon segment.[19]
2CH radio
[edit]In November 1995, Rogers accepted John Singleton's offer and joined Sydney radio station2CH.On 21 February 2007, according to theNielsenradio ratings survey, Bob Rogers' Morning show became the fourth most heard radio programme in Sydney in that particular timeslot by beatingJohn Lawsof 2UE into fifth place. It is generally more difficult for an easy listening station in Sydney to achieve a greater audience share than a talkback station. Overall, 2CH has overtaken 2UE to claim sixth place.[20][21][22]
On 5 December 2007, Rogers was verbally abused withobscenitiesby long-time professional rivalJohn Laws,in unprovoked circumstances whilst dining at lunch with3AWpersonalityDerryn Hinchin aWoolloomooloorestaurant.[23][24][25][26][27]Rogers was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia(OAM) in the2010 Birthday Honoursfor "service to the media as a radio broadcaster".[28]
After suffering a stroke while on air in 2018, Rogers announced in November 2018 that he would stop presenting his morning programme.[29]He continued presenting hisReminiscingprogram on Saturdays until 3 October 2020, when he finally retired.[30][31]
Radio career breakdown
[edit] |
| Network | Tenure | Role |
| 3XY | 1942–1950 | Panel operator |
| Hobart radio | Radio announcer and Host of Sunday Afternoon Music Program | |
| 4BH | 1950–1957 | Disc Jockey |
| 2UE | 1958–1962 | Presenter of Top 40 |
| 2SM | 1962–1995 | Disc Jockey |
| 2UE | Morning program presenter | |
| 2GB | 1976–1977 | Morning program presenter |
| 2CH | 1995–2018 | Morning program presenter and Host of program Reminiscing |
Death
[edit]Rogers died inMosmanon 29 May 2024, at the age of 97.[6]
References
[edit]- ^Bob Rogers awarded OAM– Bigpondnews, 14 June 2010, retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^Bob Rogers – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)Archived24 July 2011 at theWayback Machine– Radio 2CH, retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^Cunningham, Stuart (October 2010).The Media and Communications in Australia.ReadHowYouWant. p. 188.ISBN978-1-4596-0385-1.
- ^Sydney's daggiest radio station a giant killerArchived19 July 2008 at theWayback MachineThe Daily Telegraph,10 May 2008, retrieved 10 July 2008.
- ^"Legendary broadcaster Bob Rogers confirms radio retirement".Radio Today.28 September 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 November 2020.Retrieved4 March2021.
- ^abHyland, Jesse (29 May 2024)."Australia's longest serving DJ Bob Rogers, who had a 78-year broadcasting career, dies aged 97".ABC News.Archivedfrom the original on 29 May 2024.Retrieved29 May2024.
- ^abBob Rogers takes the cakeArchived26 October 2012 at theWayback Machine– The Sydney Morning Herald 27 November 2006, retrieved 19 June 2008.
- ^The Bob Rogers Show,Radio 2CH10:33AEDT15 March 2007.
- ^Drive withDerryn Hinch,Radio 3AW,17:31 ADST, 9 October 2009.
- ^The Bob Rogers Show,Radio 2CH,11:26:30AEST24 June 2008.
- ^abcBob RogersArchived28 August 2007 at theWayback Machine– 2CH
- ^abThe great survivorArchived2 March 2008 at theWayback Machine– The Sydney Morning Herald 28 October 2003, retrieved 18 June 2008.
- ^abProgram eight: PolicyArchived8 August 2008 at theWayback Machine– Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1999, retrieved 18 June 2008.
- ^Beilby, Peter (1981).Australian TV: The First 25 Years.Nelson. p. 65.ISBN978-0-17-005998-5.
- ^Moran, Albert; Keating, Chris (4 August 2009).The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television.Scarecrow Press. p. 232.ISBN978-0-8108-7022-2.
- ^Apter, Jeff (4 August 2020).Friday on My Mind: The life of George Young.Allen & Unwin. p. 24.ISBN978-1-76087-494-0.
- ^Winn, John C. (9 December 2008).Way Beyond Compare: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume One, 1957-1965.Crown. p. 196.ISBN978-0-307-45238-2.
- ^"Bob Rogers".Canberra Times.7 October 1976. p. 20.Retrieved22 April2023.
- ^"Bob Rogers fired over swearing".Canberra Times.29 June 1977. p. 9.Retrieved22 April2023.
- ^Classic Rogers a big hitArchived22 February 2007 at theWayback Machine– Daily Telegraph
- ^Talk beats music in radio ratings– The Australian
- ^Brought to book, but Jones is still a hitArchived22 February 2007 at theWayback Machine– Sydney Morning Herald
- ^Laws didn't call me an 'armpit transplant' – HinchArchived8 December 2007 at theWayback Machine– Daily Telegraph
- ^Radio stars 'go each other' in Sydney restaurantArchived8 December 2007 at theWayback Machine– Livenews
- ^Laws launches tirade at Hinch and RogersArchived8 December 2007 at theWayback Machine– The Sydney Morning
- ^HeraldLaws launches obscene tirade at HinchArchived7 December 2007 at theWayback Machine– Ninemsn
- ^"sound file"(MP£).Mpegmedia.abc.net.au.Retrieved24 June2022.
- ^"Award Extract - Australian Honours Search Facility".Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.14 June 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2024.Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Bob Rogers hangs up the headphones".Radioinfo.9 November 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2019.Retrieved4 March2019.
- ^"Tim Webster replaces Bob Rogers and Chris Kearns goes live at nights on 2CH".Radioinfo.21 January 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2019.Retrieved4 March2019.
- ^"Classic Hits 2CH Legend Bob Rogers announces his retirement".Radioinfo.au.27 September 2020.