Good morning and Happy Friday!!
I've got quite a time warp for you kids this morning...
If you follow my facebook, you may have seen a pre-scheduled post this morning wishing Wolfman Jack a happy birthday. Wolfman Jack did pass away in 1995 - however today would have been his 73rd birthday.
When Wolfman Jack was in his hay-day I was terrified of him. I thought he really WAS possibly from some strain of wolf-person and my older brothers did nothing at all to clear up my misunderstanding... therefore my fear of Wolfman Jack continued
until I was old enough to know better.
Wolfman Jack was a true personality - and we don't often see those anymore.
Let me fill you in with some facts below from the WIKI and IMDB, as well as a few videos that I highly recommend.
Wolfman Jack worked as a disc jockey from 1958 to 1966 for the (then) 250,000 watt radio station XERF (1570 AM) in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, just across the river from Del Rio, Texas, USA. (IMDB) ((for those of you who are not familiar with wattage, that is pretty flipping big! Approximately 2 and a half times the size of our largest local radio stations in this neck of the woods.))
Wolfman Jack was an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, and was officially known as "Reverend Jack". (IMDB)
Hit #106 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1972 with "I Ain't Never Seen a White Man" (Wooden Nickel 0108) (IMDB)
***
An Incredible chat with Dick Clark and Wolfman Jack on American Bandstand in 1976.
***
A super interview in Jacksonville with Wolfman Jack. He discusses the Midnight Special, his dislike of being in front of the camera and his favorite artists.
***
Joel Samuel interviews Wolfman Jack on the changes in music and the radio business.
This is a reeeeal goodie!
He made his final syndicated radio broadcast from a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Washington, DC, on Friday Night, June 30, 1995.
He died almost immediately after returning home from a promotional tour for his autobiography, "Have Mercy." He entered his house, hugged his wife, said "Oh, it is so good to be home!" and literally died in his wife's arms.
"Wolfman Jack" was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.
I've got quite a time warp for you kids this morning...
If you follow my facebook, you may have seen a pre-scheduled post this morning wishing Wolfman Jack a happy birthday. Wolfman Jack did pass away in 1995 - however today would have been his 73rd birthday.
When Wolfman Jack was in his hay-day I was terrified of him. I thought he really WAS possibly from some strain of wolf-person and my older brothers did nothing at all to clear up my misunderstanding... therefore my fear of Wolfman Jack continued
until I was old enough to know better.
Wolfman Jack was a true personality - and we don't often see those anymore.
Let me fill you in with some facts below from the WIKI and IMDB, as well as a few videos that I highly recommend.
::WIKI "FACT"::
Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack (January 21, 1938 – July 1, 1995) was a gravelly-voiced, American disc jockey who became world famous in the 1960s and 1970s.
***
Career began on KCIJ-AM, a daytime station in Shreveport, Louisiana. (IMDB)
He was a fan of disc jockey Alan Freed who helped to turn African-American rhythm and blues into Caucasian rock and roll music. Freed originally called himself the Moondog after New York City street musician Moondog. Freed both adopted this name and used a recorded howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. The Wolfman's adaptation of the Moondog theme was to call himself Wolfman Jack and add his own sound effects. The character was based in part on the manner and style of bluesman Howling Wolf. He kept the name Wolfman Jack and attempted to mask his true identity to create public interest in his radio character. (IMDB)
Wolfman Jack worked as a disc jockey from 1958 to 1966 for the (then) 250,000 watt radio station XERF (1570 AM) in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, just across the river from Del Rio, Texas, USA. (IMDB) ((for those of you who are not familiar with wattage, that is pretty flipping big! Approximately 2 and a half times the size of our largest local radio stations in this neck of the woods.))
***
"I ran the radio station - during the daytime I was mild mannered Bob Smith from Brooklyn just trying to make a living, baby and by night I was Wolfman Jack..."
***
Wolfman Jack was an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, and was officially known as "Reverend Jack". (IMDB)
| Wolfman Jack with Johnny Cash |
Hit #106 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1972 with "I Ain't Never Seen a White Man" (Wooden Nickel 0108) (IMDB)
***
An Incredible chat with Dick Clark and Wolfman Jack on American Bandstand in 1976.
***
"I Like Radio ... Radio's my thing ... You can go to work naked and it don't make no difference...."
Wolfman Jack
***
A super interview in Jacksonville with Wolfman Jack. He discusses the Midnight Special, his dislike of being in front of the camera and his favorite artists.
***
Joel Samuel interviews Wolfman Jack on the changes in music and the radio business.
This is a reeeeal goodie!
***
For the last two years of his life, Wolfman Jack did a live weekly show from WXTR-FM in Washington, DC, which was carried on 50 affiliate stations around the United States. (IMDB)
He made his final syndicated radio broadcast from a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Washington, DC, on Friday Night, June 30, 1995.
(IMDB)
He died almost immediately after returning home from a promotional tour for his autobiography, "Have Mercy." He entered his house, hugged his wife, said "Oh, it is so good to be home!" and literally died in his wife's arms.
(IMDB)
"Wolfman Jack" was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.
(IMDB)
Is referred to in the songs "Clap For the Wolfman" by The Guess Who,
and "Wolfman Jack" by Todd Rundgren. Is referred to in the song "Ramble on Rose" by The Grateful Dead.
(IMDB)
A final tribute show aired one week after Wolfman's death on over 100 radio stations.
(IMDB)
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"Have Mercy!"
Wolfman Jack
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"Have Mercy!"
Wolfman Jack
***
You'll find a fabulous obituary posted in the New York Times at the link below. It includes many other interesting tidbits about the life of Wolfman Jack.
WolfmanJack.Org
Until next time...
Have a Grand and Groovy Day!!
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