Australia’s longest-serving radio announcer Bob Rogers dies aged 97

Close friends, family members and radio stars have remembered Bob Rogers after the legendary broadcaster passed away in Sydney this afternoon.

The radio industry is in mourning after Australia’s longest-serving host Bob Rogers passed away aged 97.

The veteran broadcaster, whose career spanned almost 80 years, died at his Mosman home in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.

Dozens, from close friends to media personalities, and radio stars have all paid tribute to Rogers.

Former Australian senator and media personality Derryn Hinch led a chorus of tributes, which came in from radio heavyweights and family.

Hinch he commemorated Mr Rogers, describing him as a “brother”.

“(On Wednesday), I said goodbye to my dear friend, my ‘brother’, radio legend Bob Rogers,” he wrote online.

“He died at home with his wife, Jerry, and his precious daughters there. He was 97.”

Radio personality Bob Rogers has died aged 97.

Mr Hinch said Mr Rogers started in radio at Melbourne’s 3XY when he was 15, and was still doing a radio program on Sydney’s 2CH when he was aged in his 90s.

“The words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ are thrown around too easily these days, but Bob Rogers was both,” Mr Hinch said.

Derryn Hinch and Bob Rogers at the 2009 Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

“As a kid, I used to listen to him on my crystal set from across the ditch in New Zealand.

“One of his career highlights was in the 1960s when he accompanied The Beatles on their trip to Australia. He was called ‘the fifth Beatle’.

“Bob was a champion tennis player at White City, was one of the first male nude models for Cleo magazine and was an ace poker player.

“I shall be honoured to deliver his eulogy in Sydney next week. Vale, my brother.”

Rogers put 2UE at the top of the radio ratings when he joined the station in 1958.

Rogers’ 78-year career began as a panel operator for 3XY in Melbourne in 1942, and worked in radio in Mildura, Orange, Tamworth, Hobart, Brisbane, where he was the first Aussie DJ to play Slim Dusty’s ‘Pub With No Beer’.

He then moved to Sydney to present on 2UE, where he helped birth Australia’s first Top 40 music countdown in 1958 and rocketed to the top of the radio ratings.

Rogers also hosted late night television variety show The Bob Rogers Show on Channel 7 for five years, and jumped stations several times, moving from to 2SM back to 2UE and then to 2GB where an infamous f-bomb dropped live on air by John Singleton saw him sacked.

But it wasn’t the end, with Rogers writing a rock industry book and starting a women’s fashion chain before moving to Sydney station 2CH in 1995, where he spent the rest of his radio career before retiring in 2020 aged 93.

Rogers was also recognised for his contributions to radio with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010, and inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.

Rogers was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.

Aussie bar owner and family member of Bob Rogers, Linden Pride, remembered his grandfather as someone who was “bigger than life” and “one of the original good guys”. 

One of Pride’s venues which is set to open in Sydney’s Double Bay this year will take the name of Bobbie’s Bar, in honour of his late and great grandfather. 

“You inspired a generation of music lovers, but beyond that brought such incredible joy, wonder and romance into our family. You were bigger than life,” Mr Pride said on Instagram. 

“From dirt floors in country Victoria, to working alongside Australian Prime Ministers and the biggest rock stars of your generation. You built the Australian dream, and took us all along for the ride.

“We’ll miss that wicked sense of humour, your heart of gold and our favourite 5pm martini hour.”

2GB morning host Ray Hadley, who said he had visited Rogers two weeks ago at his Sydney home, remembered his former colleague as “a fantastic man”.

“When you use the word legend in radio, it’s often overused but we are talking about one of the legendary most famous broadcasters in this nation’s history,” Hadley said on 2GB on Wednesday night.

“I can thoroughly say having known him quite well for the last 35 years, you wouldn’t meet a better bloke. Absolutely gentlemanly, a fantastic man and he’s sadly gone.”

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham remembered Rogers as “a rock star”.

“Bob was one of the nicest characters you’re ever likely to meet. Everyone loved having him around the building and he just loved being on the radio,” Fordham said.

“He was such a humble gentleman and you had to remind yourself this is the same bloke who toured with the Beatles and once posed nude in a magazine.”

Mr Rogers is survived by his wife Jerry, their four daughters and Rogers’ son.