Bob Rogers, an Australian radio legend, passed away at the age of 97. In 1942, Rogers started working as a panel operator in Melbourne.
He later worked on 2SM, 2GB, and 2CH projects in Brisbane and Sydney before retiring in 2018.
Rogers received an OAM in 2010 in recognition of his services to the radio industry. Rogers worked in the radio business for an astounding 78 years.
When he was just 17 years old, he took a job as an announcer at 3MA Mildura, which was far from his Melbourne home.
2020: “I never had any contact with my family back in Melbourne,” he said to 9Honey.
We couldn’t afford them, and the only way to get in touch with them was over the phone.
I was limited to writing a letter.
” Like many others in the business, he began his career in radio in a similar manner.
Before TV sets became more widely available, in the 1940s, Rogers’ family gathered around the wireless to listen to shows when he was a little child and fell in love with radio.
At the age of 14, he pursued his ambition and secured a position as a panel operator at the nearby station 3XY.
“They hosted a children’s radio session, conducted by Max Reddy and Stella Lamond,” according to him.
Rogers was approached to provide a voice for a character on a radio program while he was employed at 3XY.
He hurried home to share it with his family after getting excited.
“My sister, who is eight years older than me, laughed hysterically when she heard my voice, which hadn’t broken yet, while we were watching at the family dinner table. “With a voice like that, you’ll never be an announcer,” she added.
“I have a funny feeling that was the motivator, to show her.”
Rogers started taking vocal lessons and eventually got the ideal job in Mildura as a radio announcer.
Rogers’ lengthy career included numerous run-ins with major American celebrities.
He claims that one of his “favorites,” Pillow Talk, was filmed in 1959, and he first met Doris Day during that time.
He added that they had met “before he was famous” singer Michael Bublé.