The American Legend that was Wolfman Jack

[hamilton_square]

Tell me, American music lovers, was Wolfman Jack all that he was apparently cracked up to be?

The reason I ask is that for the next two Saturday mornings at 10.30 GMT. BBC Radio 4 will be broadcasting the Wolfman Jack story in two 30-minute segments under the title of “Border Blaster : In search of the Wolf”. Will be interesting to gauge how he’s viewed from a British perspective.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7307738.stm

Other than his 1973 recurring vocal presence in George Lucas’s “American Graffiti” not a lot is know, on this side of the pond, about his influential ‘border’ radio output. The nearest comparison I can make from this distance is the apparent pale copy of one Mike Pasternak (aka Emperor Rosko) a likewise American born disc jockey that during the 60s progressed off our pirate radio ships and into the BBC for a short while.

[kenposurf]

Peter,
That the shows you mention are called "border blaster" tells me it's worth checking out. The early Wolman days were as a dj on 250,000 watt XERF Radio in Mexico. At the time, most USA radio shows were very segregated regarding their playlists..save for Alan Freed. Being in Mexico, the Wolfman could and did broadcast "race music" that could be heard few other places.

[phlemmy]

The wolfman was a staple on 70s television. lots of great memories seeing and hearing that guy.

[winston]

I agree. He was a household name as his show was syndicated across North America and those of us who listened to him will remember that he had a distinctive deep, raspy voice. Hence the monicker

[glen_l]

what was that song he narrated over.... back in the late 70's was it?

oh yeah... "Did you boogie with your baby in the back row of the movie show" ...lol perhaps best forgotten

yes we even heard wolfman jack down here in Oz. My first encounter being his presence in American Graffiti. I believe he appeared in it for a few minutes there too, aside from his voicework all through.

[winston]

He was very popular here in Canada. One of the top Canadian bands, The Guess who even recorded a song "Clap For The Wolfman"

"Burton Cummings explained that the song began as a jam and was originally called "Clap For Napoleon." As they were appearing on NBC's Midnight Special a few times in 1973 (they hosted the show in '74), they changed the lyric as a tribute to the show's host, the late Wolfman Jack (real name: Robert Smith). Wolfman Jack even did a couple of live dates with the group, adding his trademark "vocal" rap, which was usually done live by Cummings"

[mgauction]

George, I believe the Mexican radio station was XERB. It came in clearly in So. California. In our area he was the first of the shock DJ's, making prank calls, that, at the time, would be considered on-the-edge. I especially liked it when he woowed telephone operators and restaurant hostesses. He was hysterical! A good combinaton of humor & inventivness - not like that untalented jerk, Howard Stern.

[admin]

Wolfman was a legend and was the epitomy of cool in the 1960s. You had to love his voice.

[kenposurf]

George, I believe the Mexican radio station was XERB. It came in clearly in So. California. In our area he was the first of the shock DJ's, making prank calls, that, at the time, would be considered on-the-edge. I especially liked it when he woowed telephone operators and restaurant hostesses. He was hysterical! A good combinaton of humor & inventivness - not like that untalented jerk, Howard Stern.

Right you are Mike...that was the era when you could get into the groove of the dj's world...

[apollo11]

He was an icon---everybody knew Wolfman Jack. His voice is one you can instantly recall from your memory, and accurately, too.

[hamilton_square]

Having listened to this two part BBC 4 radio broadcast of “Border Blaster : In Search of the Wolf”

In true BBC Radio 4 tradition of balanced presentation, the first 30-minute segment was principally about the history and political reasons behind the establishment of commercial “border blaster” radio on the USA / Mexican border during the 1930s and 40s and some of the old-time characters that were on air at around that time.

The second segment of the program (that was broadcasted last Saturday and is linked below for possible listening) was all about Wolfman Jack and his on and off air antics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

See under the letter B for "Border Blaster" - Saturday, 29th March 2008. Have no idea how long this program will remain accessible on BBC Radio listen again archives – usually it’s for 14 days after the original airing.

[ric325v63]

I have very clear good memories of listening to the XERB blowtorch with the Wolfman back in 60s when I was a kid in LA. Radio was a LOT of fun in LA in the 60s!

Jon

[kenposurf]

The Wolfman talks about the state of commercial radio...

[rikk]

I wonder what year that was recorded? I'd guess 1987.