Wolfman Jack facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wolfman Jack
Jack in 1979
Born	Robert Weston Smith (1938-01-21)January 21, 1938 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Died	July 1, 1995(1995-07-01) (aged 57) Belvidere, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Disc jockey radio personality musician television presenter
Spouse(s)	Lucy "Lou" Lamb
Children	2

Robert Weston Smith (born January 21, 1938 – died July 1, 1995), known to millions as Wolfman Jack, was a famous American disc jockey. He worked in radio from 1960 until he passed away in 1995. He was well-known for his unique, rough voice. Wolfman Jack often said his voice was the reason for his success. He joked that it "kept meat and potatoes on the table for years for Wolfman and Wolfwoman."

Who Was Wolfman Jack?

Robert Weston Smith was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 21, 1938. He was the younger of two children. His father, Anson Weston Smith, was a Sunday school teacher and a writer. His mother was Rosamond Small.

Robert lived on 12th Street and 4th Avenue and went to Manual Training High School. His parents divorced when he was young. To keep him busy and out of trouble, his father bought him a large radio. Robert quickly fell in love with R&B music and the disc jockeys who played it.

Some of his favorite DJs included Douglas "Jocko" Henderson and "Dr. Jive" (Tommy Smalls). He also admired "Moon Dog" Alan Freed and "John R." Richbourg, who later became his teacher. Before starting his radio career, Robert sold encyclopedias and brushes door-to-door. He then studied at the National Academy of Broadcasting in Washington, D.C..

How Did Wolfman Jack Start in Radio?

After finishing school in 1960, Robert Smith began his radio career. His first job was as "Daddy Jules" at station WYOU in Newport News, Virginia. When the station changed its music style, he became "Roger Gordon and Music in Good Taste."

In 1962, Smith moved to a country music station, KCIJ/1050, in Shreveport, Louisiana. There, he was the station manager and morning DJ, known as "Big Smith with the Records." He married Lucy "Lou" Lamb in 1961, and they had two children together.

Becoming the Wolfman

The famous DJ Alan Freed had used the name "Moon Dog" and a recorded howl on his radio shows. Robert Smith took this idea and made it his own. He called himself Wolfman Jack and added his unique sound effects. His "Wolfman" character was partly inspired by the blues musician Howlin' Wolf.

The "Wolfman" name came from Smith's love for horror movies. He used to pretend to be a "wolfman" with his young nephews. The "Jack" part of his name came from 1950s slang, like saying "Hit the road, Jack."

Broadcasting from Mexico

In 1963, Wolfman Jack moved his show to a powerful radio station in Mexico. This station, XERF-AM, was located in Ciudad Acuña, just across the border from Del Rio, Texas. Its strong signal, called a "border blaster," could be heard across most of the United States.

Wolfman Jack once said about the signal, "We had the most powerful signal in North America. Birds dropped dead when they flew too close to the tower." These border stations broadcast at 250,000 watts, which was five times the limit in the U.S. This meant their signals reached all over North America, and even Europe and the Soviet Union at night.

At XERF, Wolfman Jack developed his famous style. He used phrases like, "Who's this on the Wolfman telephone?" The border stations made money by selling airtime to preachers and psychics. Wolfman Jack also did commercials for many products, including dog food, weight-loss pills, and even baby chicks.

Moving to Los Angeles

After eight months in Mexico, Smith moved to Minneapolis to manage station KUXL. Even though he was in Minneapolis, he kept broadcasting as Wolfman Jack on XERF. He would record his shows and send the tapes to the station.

Missing the excitement of border radio, Wolfman Jack returned to run another station, XERB. He opened an office in Los Angeles in 1966. He recorded his shows there and sent the tapes across the border to Mexico. From there, his voice was beamed across the U.S.

In 1971, the Mexican government stopped the religious programs on the radio. This caused XERB to lose a lot of money. Wolfman Jack then moved to station KDAY 1580 in Los Angeles. He earned less money there, but he found new ways to use his fame.

He started editing his old XERB tapes and selling them to radio stations everywhere. This made him one of the first rock-and-roll shows to be shared with many stations. He also appeared on Armed Forces Radio for many years. At his most popular, Wolfman Jack was heard on over 2,000 radio stations in 53 countries!

Later Radio Work

In 1973, Wolfman Jack joined WNBC in New York. The station launched a big advertising campaign, saying he would beat their main competitor. However, after less than a year, Wolfman Jack returned to California. He focused on his syndicated radio show, which was played on KRLA-Pasadena (Los Angeles) from 1984 to 1987.

In 1989, he moved to Belvidere, North Carolina, to be closer to his family. He also hosted a TV show called Wolfman Jack's Rock'n'Roll Palace. Even after his death, recordings of Wolfman Jack's old shows are still played on radio stations today.

Wolfman Jack in Movies, TV, and Music

In his early days, Wolfman Jack made public appearances at clubs. He looked different each time because he hadn't decided on his final "Wolfman" look. Sometimes he had a goatee, other times a big afro wig and sunglasses. People weren't sure what his background was, which added to the mystery of his show. His audience finally saw him clearly in the 1969 film "A Session with the Committee."

Wolfman Jack also had a music career. He released albums like Boogie with the Wolfman (1965), Wolfman Jack (1972), and Through the Ages (1973).

Becoming a Movie Star

In 1973, Wolfman Jack appeared as himself in George Lucas's movie American Graffiti. This movie was a huge success and gave him a steady income for the rest of his life. He also had voice-over roles in the 1979 sequel, More American Graffiti.

He appeared in many TV shows as Wolfman Jack, including The Odd Couple, What's Happening!!, Vega$, and Married... with Children. He was also the regular announcer and sometimes host for The Midnight Special on NBC from 1973 to 1981. He even voiced a character in the TV special Garfield in Paradise in 1986.

Music and Pop Culture

Wolfman Jack influenced many musicians. Jim Morrison of The Doors was inspired by his broadcasts. He is also mentioned in the Grateful Dead song "Ramble On Rose." He lent his voice to The Guess Who's hit song "Clap for the Wolfman."

The Canadian band The Stampeders also released a song featuring Wolfman Jack. From 1975 to 1980, Wolfman Jack hosted Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm, a very popular event. In 2012, a hip-hop song was released using clips of Wolfman Jack's voice. In 2016, his radio program clips were used in the movie 31.

Wolfman Jack's Final Days

On July 1, 1995, Robert Smith, known as Wolfman Jack, passed away from a heart attack. He was at his home in Belvidere, North Carolina. He had just finished a weekly radio broadcast. He was 57 years old. Wolfman Jack is buried in a family cemetery in Belvidere.

Film and Television Appearances

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See also

In Spanish: Wolfman Jack para niños