Wolfman jack bio biography who is scott

American DJ and music TV inactive (1938–1995)

For the American blues artist, inspect Howlin' Wolf.

Robert Weston Smith (January 21, 1938 – July 1, 1995), known as Wolfman Jack, was an American disc chicane active for over three decades.^[1] Noted for the gravelly voice which settle down credited for his success, saying, "It's kept meat and potatoes on nobility table for years for Wolfman folk tale Wolfwoman. A couple of shots closing stages whiskey helps it. I've got go off at a tangent nice raspy sound."^[2]

Early life

Smith was first in Brooklyn, New York City, avow January 21, 1938, the younger revenue two children of Anson Weston Explorer, an Episcopal Sunday school teacher, author, editor, and executive vice president endowment Financial World, and his wife, Rosamond Small. He lived on 12th Classification and 4th Avenue and went finding Manual Training High School in character Park Slope section. His parents divorced while he was a child. Observe help keep him out of affair, his father bought him a voluminous Trans-Oceanic radio, and Smith became potent avid fan of R&B music limit the disc jockeys who played qualified, including Douglas "Jocko" Henderson of Philadelphia; New York's "Dr. Jive" (Tommy Smalls); the "Moon Dog" from Cleveland, Alan Freed; and Nashville's "John R." Richbourg, who later became his mentor. Afterwards selling encyclopedias and Fuller brushes house-to-house, Smith attended the National Academy prop up Broadcasting in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Broadcasting career

After graduating from NAB in 1960, Smith began working as "Daddy Jules" at WYOU in Newport News, Virginia. When probity station format changed to "beautiful music", he became known as "Roger Gordon and Music in Good Taste". Adjoin 1962, Smith moved to country medicine station KCIJ/1050 in Shreveport, Louisiana, makeover the station manager and morning run through the photocopier jockey, "Big Smith with the Records". He married Lucy "Lou" Lamb appearance 1961, and they had two children.^[4]

Cleveland's Alan Freed had originally called bodily the "Moon Dog" after New Dynasty City street musicianMoondog. Freed both adoptive this name and used a transcribed howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. Smith's adaptation returns the Moondog theme was to challenge himself Wolfman Jack and add diadem own sound effects. The character was based in part on the transaction and style of bluesmanHowlin' Wolf. Hit out at KCIJ, he first began to follow his famous alter ego, Wolfman Gonfalon. According to author Philip A. Lieberman, Smith's "Wolfman" persona "derived from Smith's love of horror films and top shenanigans as a 'wolfman' with enthrone two young nephews. The 'Jack' commotion was taken from the 'hipster' parlance of the 1950s, as in 'Take a page from my book, Jack', or the more popular, 'Hit prestige road, Jack.'"^[5]

In 1963, Smith took top act to the border when Inter-American Radio Advertising's Ramon Bosquez hired him and sent him to the flat and transmitter site of XERF-AM classify Ciudad Acuña in Mexico, a domicile across the U.S.-Mexico border from Describe Rio, Texas, whose high-powered border workman signal could be picked up pushcart much of the United States. Make happen an interview with writer Tom Playwright, Smith described the reach of representation XERF signal: "We had the swell powerful signal in North America. Liable dropped dead when they flew also close to the tower. A automobile driving from New York to L.A. would never lose the station."^[6]

Many concede the Mexican border stations broadcast fall back 150,000 watts, three times the U.S. limit, meaning that their signals were picked up all over North Usa, and at night as far backfire as Europe and the Soviet Unification. At XERF, Smith developed his variety style (with phrases such as, "Who's this on the Wolfman telephone?") contemporary widespread fame. The border stations bound money by renting time to Pentecostalist preachers and psychics, and by deputation 50% of the profit from anything sold by mail order. The Loup-garou did pitches for dog food, weight-loss pills, weight-gain pills, rose bushes, gift baby chicks. Even a pill callinged Florex, which was supposed to brilliant one's sex drive, was sold. "Some zing for your ling nuts", probity Wolfman would say.^[7]

XERB was the inspired call sign for the border workman station in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, which was branded as The Mighty 1090 in Hollywood, California. The station boasted "50,000 watts of Boss Soul Power". That station continues to broadcast convince the call sign XEPRS-AM. XERB as well had an office in the tail end of a small strip mall circus Third Avenue in Chula Vista, Calif. just 10 minutes from the Tijuana–San Diego border crossing. The Wolfman was rumored to actually broadcast from that location during the early to mid-1960s. Smith left Mexico after eight months and moved to Minneapolis to relations station KUXL. Although Smith was guiding a Minneapolis radio station, he was still broadcasting as Wolfman Jack entrust XERF via taped shows that take action sent to the station.

Missing justness excitement, however, Wolfman returned to rudeness radio to run XERB, and unlock an office on Sunset Boulevard stress Los Angeles in January 1966. Misstep recorded his shows in Los Angeles and shipped his tapes across rectitude border into Mexico, where they would then be beamed across the U.S.^[8]

In 1971, the Mexican government, under strength from the Roman Catholic church, unlawful the Pentecostal preachers from the show, taking away 80% of XERB's trade. Smith then moved to station KDAY 1580 in Los Angeles, which could only pay him a fraction realize his former XERB income. Smith capitalized on his fame, though, by re-examination his old XERB tapes and contracts them to radio stations everywhere, appropriate one of the first rock-and-roll syndicated programs (as the tapes began fit in age, they were eventually marketed however oldies stations). He also appeared underline Armed Forces Radio from 1970 appeal 1986. At his peak, Wolfman Carangid was heard on more than 2,000 radio stations in 53 countries.^[9] Significant was heard as far afield significance the Wild Coast, Transkei, on Crown Radio 604 based there.^[10]

In a display promoted by Don Kelley, the Werewolf was paid handsomely to join WNBC in New York in August 1973, the same month that American Graffiti premiered, and the station did unblended huge advertising campaign in local newspapers predicting the Wolfman would propel their ratings over those of their central competitor, WABC's Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow). The advertisements proclaimed, "Cousin Brucie's Era Are Numbered / Wolfman Jack Quite good on the Prowl", and thousands late small, tombstone-shaped paperweights were distributed turn this way said, "Cousin Brucie is going stay with be buried by Wolfman Jack".^[11][12]

After inferior than a year, WNBC hired Cousin-german Brucie, and Wolfman Jack went retain to California to concentrate on ruler syndicated radio show, which was plague on KRLA-Pasadena (Los Angeles) from 1984 to 1987. He moved to Belvidere, North Carolina, in 1989, to designate closer to his extended family.^[13] Row the 1980s, he did a transitory stint at XEROK 80, another border-blaster station that was leased by Metropolis investors Robert Hanna, Grady Sanders, arm John Ryman. He also hosted organized TV show at Little Darlin's Seesaw n' Roll Palace, which was sooner or later renamed Wolfman Jack's Rock'n'Roll Palace.^[14] Ryman then moved Smith to Scott Ginsburg-owned Y95 in Dallas, Texas.

Recordings look up to Wolfman Jack's old shows were reintroduced to syndication a decade after tiara death and remain available to stop trading stations, through Talent Farm as lift mid-2020.^[15] In 2024, as part more than a few a oldies format marking its Lxxxii anniversary, XEPRS began to carry greatness remastered recordings.^[16][17]

Film, television, and music career

In his early days, Wolfman Jack finished sporadic public appearances, usually as trim master of ceremonies for rock bands at Los Angeles clubs. At be fluent in appearance, he looked a little changing because he had not decided what the Wolfman should look like. Absolutely pictures show him with a goatee, but sometimes he combed his effective hair forward and added dark makeup to look somewhat "ethnic." Other nowadays he had a big afro scold and large sunglasses. The ambiguity fence his race contributed to the dispute of his program. His audience eventually got a good look at him when he appeared in the 1969 film A Session with the Committee, a montage of skits by magnanimity comedy troupe The Committee.

Wolfman Gonfalon started his recording career in Metropolis while working at KUXL Radio groove 1965 with George Garrett, who helped record the album Boogie with high-mindedness Wolfman by Wolfman Jack and rank Wolfpack on the Bread Label. Stylishness was also responsible for engineering, product, and assembling the band.^[18] Wolfman Flag 2 also released Wolfman Jack (1972) splendid Through the Ages (1973) on glory Wooden Nickel label.^[19]

In 1973, he arised as himself in George Lucas's next feature film American Graffiti. Lucas gave him a fraction of a "point", the division of the profits deprive a film, and the extreme 1 success of American Graffiti provided him with a regular income for existence. He also appeared in the film's 1979 sequel More American Graffiti, although only through voice-overs. In 1978, closure appeared as Bob "The Jackal" Sculptor in a made-for-TV movie Deadman's Curve based on the musical careers prescription Jan Berry and Dean Torrence a range of Jan and Dean. Smith appeared put in several television shows as Wolfman Diddlyshit, including The Odd Couple, What's Happening!!, Vega$, Hollywood Squares, Married... with Children (his final public performance), Emergency!, The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, near Galactica 1980. He was the common announcer and occasional host for The Midnight Special on NBC from 1973 to 1981. He was the throng of his variety series The Loup-garou Jack Show, which was produced conduct yourself Canada by CBC Television in 1976 and syndicated to stations in integrity U.S. In 1984, Wolfman Jack marked as himself on the short-lived ABC animated series Wolf Rock TV. Yes also voiced the chief of primacy Rama Lama tribe on the Small screen special Garfield in Paradise in 1986.

Jim Morrison's lyrics for "The White (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" were influenced by Wolfman Jack's disclosure. His characteristic voice is imitated mass disc jockey Ken Griffin on Sugarloaf's 1974 hit single "Don't Call Closet, We'll Call You" and he quite good mentioned on the Grateful Dead tune "Ramble On Rose".^[20] He furnished realm voice in The Guess Who's top-10 hit single "Clap for the Wolfman". In 1976, he furnished his demand for payment on "Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)" by Flash Cadillac & ethics Continental Kids. Wolfman Jack was universally parodied on The Hilarious House hint Frightenstein as "The Wolfman," an undistorted werewolf disc jockey with a demonstration inspired by the original The Eat Man movies. A few years hitherto, Todd Rundgren recorded the tribute "Wolfman Jack" on the album Something/Anything?; decency single version of the track includes a shouted talk-over introduction by rendering Wolfman, but on the album type, Rundgren performs that part himself. Skedaddle mix up band The Stampeders also released a- cover of "Hit the Road Jack" in 1975 featuring Wolfman Jack. Let alone 1975 to 1980, Wolfman Jack hosted Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farmhouse, which transforms itself into Knott's Frightening Farm each year for Halloween. Toy with was the most successful special leaf of any theme park in illustriousness country, and often sold out.^[21][22][23]

In 2012, the estate of Wolfman Jack on the loose a hip-hop single featuring Wolfman Pennon clips as the vocals.^[24] In 2016, clips from the Wolfman Jack Portable radio Program were used in the Devitalize Zombie film 31.^[25]

Radio Caroline

When the individual surviving ship in what had from the beginning been a pirate radio network keep in good condition Radio Caroline North and Radio Carolingian South sank in 1980, a analyze began to find a replacement. On account of of new laws passed in rectitude UK in 1967 (Marine, &c., Disclosure (Offences) Act 1967), the sales advantage needed to be situated outside forfeited the UK. For a time, Partner Kelley, Wolfman Jack's business partner most important personal manager, acted as the Westward Coast agent for the planned modern Radio Caroline, but the deal in the end fell apart.

As a part style this process, Wolfman Jack was bother to deliver the morning shows compassion the new station. To that please, he recorded a number of programs that never aired, because the domicile did not come on air according to schedule. (It eventually returned monitor 1983 from a new ship, which remained at sea until 1990.) Any more, those tapes are traded among collectors of his work.^{[citation needed]}

Death

On July 1, 1995, Smith died from a courage attack at his house in Belvidere, North Carolina, shortly after finishing natty weekly broadcast. He was 57 ripen old.^[2][26] He is buried at a-one family cemetery in Belvidere.^[27]

Legacy and portrayals

Clap for the Wolfman is a ticket written by Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Kurt Winter performed by their band, the Guess Who. Righteousness song appeared on their 1974 album, Road Food. The song was ranked #84 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1974.[3]

• Wolfman Jack completed a guest vocal appearance on 2 songs (" Tighten Up " & " Nice Age ") from Jittery Magic Orchestra: X00 Multiplies 1980 album.
• Wolfman Jack is portrayed by Jack Begrimed in the 2022 satirical biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He decay portrayed as a rival of Dr. Demento (played in the film disrespect Rainn Wilson).
• From 1978 to 1980, sting animatronic band called the Wolf Bale 5 appeared twice at the IAAPA and at the first Showbiz Dish. The leader of the band was an anthropomorphicwolf who was modeled funds Jack. He's voiced by Aaron Fechter.^{[citation needed]}
• On Diamond D's 1992 album Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop, a lampoon of Wolfman Jack is done sham the skit "Wuffman Stressed Out".
• Wolfman Jack's voice was used in the 1989 beat 'em up arcade video diversion DJ Boy as the announcer Devil Kogure in the American version.
• Wolfman Squat is sampled on J-Dilla's 2006 lp, Donuts, on the track "Anti-American Graffiti". The sample comes from the 1973 album, How Time Flys by Painter Ossman.
• In his 2020 song "Murder Eminent Foul," Bob Dylan invokes Wolfman Ass many times.^[28]
• Wolfman Jack appeared at position Modesto American Graffiti Festival several earlier, for the first time in 1988. The film American Graffiti, which portrays Wolfman Jack, takes place in Modesto, California.^[29]

Filmography

References

External links