'Roto-Rooter' Jingle Tune Turns 50

By Robert Siegel

Published May 24, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

Fifty years ago this year, The Buccaneers sang the original "Roto-Rooter" jingle. NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Jerry Richards about his history with the singing group. Richard tells us he arranged the tune, which is one of the most memorable radio jungles known to man. It is for a service that unclogs sewer lines.

Robert Siegel

Prior to his retirement, Robert Siegel was the senior host of NPR's award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered. With 40 years of experience working in radio news, Siegel hosted the country's most-listened-to, afternoon-drive-time news radio program and reported on stories and happenings all over the globe, and reported from a variety of locations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. He signed off in his final broadcast of All Things Considered on January 5, 2018.

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