Bob Rogers (disc jockey)
Encyclopedia
Bob Rogers OAM
(born 3 December 1926) is an Australian disc jockey
and radio
broadcaster
. He currently presents the Bob Rogers Show, Monday to Friday between 9am-12 noon and the 6-hour Saturday evening Reminiscing program on Sydney
radio station 2CH
.
. His father had been a junior butcher before becoming a farmer. He used to help his dad round up the sheep and catch the lamb before the slaughter.
in 1942. Moving onto a Hobart
station on a weekly wage of £8, 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 coming off ships from America. Sponsors came in but when he asked for either a pay rise or Saturdays off, he was rejected. Rogers resigned and started a similar music program on Brisbane
's 4BH
in 1950. In 1957, Rogers discovered the Slim Dusty song "Pub With No Beer" and was the first DJ in Australia to play the song and catapult it to number one on the charts. He became successful and subsequently presented Australia's first Top 40 show on 2UE
from 1958 to 1962. He was Australia's top radio DJ for the next 8 years.
which jumped to number 1. In 1964 Rogers was chosen to represent 2SM on Beatles' legendary tour through Europe, Asia and Australia. Consequently Rogers became known as "the fifth Beatle".
He 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. In 1976, Rogers wrote "Rock And Roll Australia", a book about the birth of the Australian rock industry. In 1982, he started a chain of Women's dress shops, called "Saucy Froots".
.
's offer and joined Sydney radio station 2CH.
by long-time professional rival John Laws
in unprovoked circumstances whilst dining at lunch with 3AW
personality Derryn Hinch
in a Woolloomooloo restaurant at Sydney's finger wharf.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 3 December 1926) is an Australian disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. He currently presents the Bob Rogers Show, Monday to Friday between 9am-12 noon and the 6-hour Saturday evening Reminiscing program on Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
radio station 2CH
2CH
2CH is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, at 1170 kHz AM. It broadcasts an oldies format, and is aimed to an older age demographic...
.
Early life
Rogers was born to British parents and raised in Donald, VictoriaDonald, Victoria
Donald is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Richardson River, at the junction of Sunraysia Highway and Borung Highway, in the Shire of Buloke. The town is named after William Donald, a Scottish pastoralist who was the first settler in the area in 1844...
. His father had been a junior butcher before becoming a farmer. He used to help his dad round up the sheep and catch the lamb before the slaughter.
Career
Rogers began his career as a panel operator for 3XY in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1942. Moving onto a Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
station on a weekly wage of £8, 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 coming off ships from America. Sponsors came in but when he asked for either a pay rise or Saturdays off, he was rejected. Rogers resigned and started a similar music program on Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
's 4BH
4BH
4BH is a radio station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. Its analogue broadcast frequency is 882 KHz AM and markets itself for the baby boomer market. 4BH also broadcasts in digital using the dab+ format on the Brisbane 2 DAB ensemble channel 9B 204.640 MHz...
in 1950. In 1957, Rogers discovered the Slim Dusty song "Pub With No Beer" and was the first DJ in Australia to play the song and catapult it to number one on the charts. He became successful and subsequently presented Australia's first Top 40 show on 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
from 1958 to 1962. He was Australia's top radio DJ for the next 8 years.
Popular and Successful
In 1962 he joined 2SM2SM
2SM is an Australian radio station, licensed to and serving Sydney, New South Wales, broadcasting on 1269 kilohertz on the AM band. It is owned and operated by Broadcast Operations Group...
which jumped to number 1. In 1964 Rogers was chosen to represent 2SM on Beatles' legendary tour through Europe, Asia and Australia. Consequently Rogers became known as "the fifth Beatle".
He 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. In 1976, Rogers wrote "Rock And Roll Australia", a book about the birth of the Australian rock industry. In 1982, he started a chain of Women's dress shops, called "Saucy Froots".
Moving to Television
Due to his overwhelming popularity amongst the audience, Rogers ventured into television. The Bob Rogers Show, a late night TV variety Show, ran for five years on the Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
.
Success at 2CH
In November 1995 (1997 is wrong on the 2CH website), Rogers accepted John SingletonJohn Singleton (Australian entrepreneur)
John Desmond Singleton AM is an Australian entrepreneur. He built his success and wealth in the advertising business in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s...
's offer and joined Sydney radio station 2CH.
- On 21 February 2007, according to the NielsenACNielsenACNielsen is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City. Regional headquarters for North America are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. As of May 2010, it is part of The Nielsen Company.-History:...
radio ratings survey, Bob Rogers's Morning show became the fourth most heard radio programme in Sydney in that particular timeslot by beating John LawsJohn LawsRichard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
of 2UE into fifth place. This is no mean feat as it is generally much 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.
Rivalry
On 5 December 2007, Rogers was verbally abused with obscenitiesProfanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
by long-time professional rival John Laws
John Laws
Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
in unprovoked circumstances whilst dining at lunch with 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
personality Derryn Hinch
Derryn Hinch
Derryn Nigel Hinch is an Australian media personality best known for his work on Melbourne radio. He is currently the host of 3AW's drive time radio show...
in a Woolloomooloo restaurant at Sydney's finger wharf.