Local authors debut That Rock Show Podcast from the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum

Authors Jim Summaria of Algonquin and Mark Plotnick of Libertyville have resumed their weekly 90-minute show now airing from the Road to Rock Studio at the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum in Joliet.

That Rock Show with Jim and Mark celebrates the world of rock ‘n’ roll with music, backstories, insights, trivia, opinions, humor and conversations with special music industry guests.

The museum’s founder and CEO, Ron Romero, invited the authors to support and expand the museum’s mission while giving the authors autonomy in developing the content of their weekly show.

Recorded at both Plotnick’s home studio in Libertyville and the museum’s Road to Rock Studio, That Rock Show airs for 90 minutes every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

All episodes are immediately archived for listening anytime at roadtorock.org/podcast/. Archived episodes can also be heard on Spotify, Amazon or Apple podcast platforms by searching for Illinois Rock and Roll Museum.

Music guests to date include Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), Jim Messina (Loggins and Messina), Les Dudek (Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, Stevie Nicks, Boz Scaggs, Cher), Karl Green (founding bassist for Herman’s Hermits), Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Chicago Blues Hall of Famer Dave Specter, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna), Jerry Portnoy (harmonicist for Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton) and Joanne Shaw Taylor (British blues-rock guitarist/singer/songwriter).

More surprises are in store for 2026.

Jim Summaria has been photographing legendary music acts at venues in Illinois and Wisconsin since the early 1970s. Both men write music reviews and essays for several publications accompanied by Summaria’s exclusive concert photos.

In 2025, Plotnick was invited by the Library of Congress National Recording Registry to write an essay about Chicago’s debut album Chicago Transit Authority. The authors also give PowerPoint talks to libraries and groups. Their books are part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Library and Archives Collection in Cleveland, Ohio where they were VIP guests.

The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum and Hall of Fame is located at 9 W. Cass in historic downtown Joliet. Its mission is to preserve the rich history and contributions of musicians, performers and industry leaders who have impacted the music world and have ties to Illinois.