The Rock and Roll Roots show - or as it's usually called, Rock and Roots - kicked off on 23 October, 2005, featuring presenters Mark Langdale, Benny Gregersen and program co-ordinator Peter Rice. Over the years Rock and Roots has had some programmers come and go, with the line up in 2013 being Mark Langdale, John Symons (ex 3SA), and Peter Rice.
Rock and Roots explores the musical roots of the rock and roll genre but is specifically about rock and roll itself, and tops off 3CR's brilliant array of Saturday music programs. Rock and Roots loosely follows hourly genres of hillbilly and rockabilly at 2am, jazz swing and boogie woogie at 3am, R&B and blues at 4am, and a mix and match of any and all of the above in the last hour (plus a few more), depending on the presenter!
Hawaiian, cajun, and bluegrass are often to be heard on Rock and Roots from time to time as well.
John Symons has been presenting Rock and Roots since late 2010, and with a background in music programming for many years at 3SA, he brings great jazz, swing, and boogie woogie to Rock and Roots.
Mark Langdale (aka 'Mr 45') has been broadcasting at 3CR for just on two decades on a number of music programs, and regularly presents great western swing, hillbilly and 50's rock and roll on Rock and Roots. Mark regularly produces Rock and Roots one-off specials, dedicated to doo-wop, R&B, and rockabilly, and occasionally produces a few dedicated year specials; a 1952 special broadcast in 2011 made the 3CR phone run red hot, which says something for a program which airs live at 2am Sunday!
Peter Rice has been presenting music programs at 3CR for just over a decade, with a special interest in early rock and roll music roots, and 78 rpm records. Often broadcasting original 78rpm discs from as far back as the 1920's (which has occasionally had Mark Langdale tagging Peter on air as 'Mr 78'), many original and rare recordings of many artists feature on Rock and Roots, which simply cannot or will not be found or heard anywhere else. Hard rocking blues and heavier sides of rock and roll can also be regularly expected on Peter's programs after 4 and 5am, with leanings towards 60's progressive rock, early metal, punk and occasionally psychobilly, and also with a strong focus on Australian performers and artists.
Listen to Rock and Roots for great music and gems from 'wayback when' to the present, which you will simply never hear anywhere else.