I remember, listening to Wolfman at the top of a mountain at night. Where I would camp at night at Lake Tahoe. I’d listen to the preachers and the people selling gospel music and collections of gospel music. Then Wolfman would come on, and there was a lot of R&B collections and send in and you get the greatest of all time R&B, cash check or money order. That was at XERB. He was an example of somebody original. There will never be anyone like him again. The last of his kind…
I remember hearing Worlfman jack - a lot! i lived in California as a kid. My parents were hyperfundamentalist Christians who wouldn't let me listen to anything on the radio, all the way through high school. My dad bought a cheap transistor radio when I was about 12, about 1963.. I wasn't allowed to listen to it, but Dad hid it in my room! I didn't take long to find it so every night after my parents went to bed I'd haul out the radio and listen with its included earphone to rock n' roll. Shortly after that, I discovered XERB and Wolfman Jack. I am retired now but I still play rock 'n roll guitar and listen to all the good old music from that era!
He was the best damn DJ to ever live. I had the pleasure of talking to him on his last day playing the oldies in San Diego California. He was legendary, fascinating, and the king of his field. The man put Art leboe and Casey kasem under the table. A great loss to all of us who grew up in the sixties and seventies, and all the way to his death. RIP WOLFMAN, YOU ARE MISSED BY ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVELAGE OF GROWING UP WITH YOU. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
He was not Jesus Christ. He never offered to die on a cross to say the world from their sins. "WE" all deserve hell and then the lake of fire on judgement day.
THEMOJOMANsince1959 It was tough to be downwind of him because he smoked like a freight train. He said he couldn’t stop because he would lose his trademark voice. Set down and had dinner with him in a Vegas “all you can eat”. buffet and as it turned out I could have two plates of food and he could have four plates plus!
Wolfman was our Voice back in the day. He played what we wanted to hear. He told us truth and love. I remember having a transistor under my pillow and would listen. He was on our car radios, playing in our garages, even at the drive-ins! He was our favorite Uncle and font of the best music and wisdom. RIP dear Wolfman!
Attending August Jam in August 1974 at Charlotte Motor Speedway... myself and three other Marine Brothers and I where lucky enough to maneuver our way in front of the stage. I still remember the "Wolfman," doing his thing right in front of me! Oh man, what an experience! Listened to him on CKLW back in the Detroit area when music was "King". Sure miss him!
I met the The Wolfman at a radio programming conference put on buy Billboard Magazine at the Century Plaza Hotel. It was in the early 70s. And he was charismatic. "If I'm lying I'm dying" Thanks Wolfman. Iron American Dream on TH-cam. Please play my tune on the radio.
1987 I was playing old "Wolfman Jack Shows" on KARA 105.7fm Santa Clara. One day a listener called up and asked to talk to Wolfman. It was funny because the shows were so dated, just about everyone knew they were a decade or more old.....except for this caller :)
“In 1973, he appeared as himself in George Lucas's second feature film American Graffiti. Lucas gave him a fraction of a "point", the division of the profits from a film, and the extreme financial success of American Graffiti provided him with a regular income for life.” Source: Wikipedia
He did not preach about Jesus Christ or Salvation through the Cross. He loved this world and all that it had to offer. 1 John 2:15-17 New Living Translation 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. James 4:4 New Living Translation 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God." Mark 8:36 New Living Translation 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Shut up. This ain’t a damm bible beat down fool. He’s a character on radio when radio was was still a thing. What the bell are you on?
This was taped not long before he died. 'On July 1, 1995, Smith died from a heart attack at his house in Belvidere, North Carolina, shortly after finishing a weekly broadcast'. His book had just been released 3 weeks before he died at age 57. He gained a lot of weight, in the years before his death and he was breathless, here. He smoked, drank and did a lot of drugs. I own his book. He had a hell of a life, lived fast and died young. He's a radio inspiration, for me. I have worked in radio, since 1989.
As soon as I saw this, with his smoking and his weight, it became clear how and why he died. Yes, he entertained millions. But he also should have come to the point where he laid off the drugs, quit the booze and threw away the coffin nails. It's apparent now he never did. You can get away with this kind of lifestyle in your twenties and thirties, but it begins to take its toll on the body in the forties. If you haven't yet adopted the clean lifestyle by age 55, your chances of another thirty to forty years on this Earth go down considerably for most. Not all, but most.
@@BillBird2111 a very accurate comment how you live your life in one's early year's......reflects later on but respect to the Wolfman jack xx a true legend xx🤩😍👍
@Steve Stalzle Thanks for that fun fact-I was wondering how soon before his death this interview was made. Was this interview done in the U.K.? The interviewer has a British accent.
I remember many years ago hearing an interview with another legendary DJ, Bruce Morrow (AKA Cousin Brucie). He spoke very highly of Wolfman Jack. As I recall, Wolfman Jack was involuntarily replaced by Cousin Brucie at a radio station. Instead of being bitter, Cousin Brucie said Wolfman Jack was very gracious and told him he had no hard feelings. That left me with a very positive impression of the man. It has been nearly 25 years since his passing. RIP.
I met Wolfman back in 1990 at a car show in Gilroy California I remember him coming off the stage and I was the first one to greet him and I said Wolfman can I have your autograph please and he said sure and asked me for my name definitely the coolest guy in the world it was a pleasure meeting him I could die happy now LOL
I got into radio in 1974 and it wasn’t long before my listeners started calling me Caveman Jack! I wasn’t copying the Wolfman but people seemed to make a connection between our styles… There’s never going to be another Wolfman Jack!!
i am from The Netherlands and never heard about this mysterious Wolfman jack, untill seeing the movie A.Grafitty many years ago. A great cult movie, but then it really got me curious who he was. I appreciate this interview upload of the man behind Wolfman Jack. A great american DJ. And he's absolutely right, entertainment and freedom of dj's you can't find these days. All to well controlled and to commercial. I was born at the wrong time and place i guess.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv no, there is more then these two cities, southern NL it is, and it is beautifull, just that particular culture that fits me is al about it.
Dont know about the greatest American jockey, most likely the worlds best! Had a radio (here in the UK) that i could listen to him on, never missed a show unless i couldnt get a signal. long live the Wolfman....
My dad was layed to rest yesterday.i didn't really know him because i was 3 when my mom left him.i lost contact with him and didnt want anything to dobwith him because of the person he was.told to me by many.but i do have some memories of him.and this is one of them.i remember him doing the wolfman jack voice.so this is all i have since i dnt remember his voice.
I had the honor to meet The Wolfman in Kansas City at an oldies revival concert where I was a jock on WHB. What a thrill. He was gracious and polite. He was in be of my heroes.
We met him in person in k-town Germany in 1978-1979 can’t remember which year. He was at the NCO club for all too see and hear. I got too shake his hand and get his autograph. On a pict of his self. (I still have his signed photo ) He later dedicate a dance song to me and my spouse that night. I’ve never forgotten him. RIP wolfman.
“It was at XERF that Smith developed his signature style (with phrases like "Who's this on the Wolfman telephone?") and widespread fame.” Source: Wikipedia
This is a wonderful interview. It's especially interesting to those of us who worked in radio. Of course, you have to be of a certain age to have listened to the Wolfman back in the 60's and 70's. Just great info and stories. Those were the days !
@@richthepontiacguys1412 was a late radio jock back after highschool but lived in delrio at the time and got a tour of xerf.wow what big transmitters.lots of great stories of the wolfman days there.i was at smaller station kwmc on 2 occasions.good days early 80s and thanks for this interview
Had the great opportunity one evening to sit right beside Wolfman at Dinner held in his honor at one of the USAF bases in Germany. He came over on a USO Tour to entertain the troops. He was extremely down to earth, and I remember he smoked those very strong Kool non-filter cigarettes. Turned out to be a very cool night....
Hard to believe that this interview was done in 1995. What the Wolfman said about radio today (1995) is relevant here in 2022... Music radio is a vast wasteland.
He came to Modesto, CA for an American Graffiti happening in town. I was in the Red Lion Hotel with friends when he walked in. He sat down, took his sunglasses off and eyeballed me. He kept looking, but he was so overweight and sick lookin’, I felt bad for him. This was the late 80’s. Sorry when I heard he had passed.
When radio was radio not today there not been a man like this since . He was real and very popular and still is . I just cant say or express the thanks for what this man gave us . one of the best radio DJ ever .We still and always will love you brother Wolfman Jack .Radio is boring and plain he played everything country, blues , Rock N Roll and so forth . We know your sprit is with us wolfman Thank You Brother .
Hundreds of radio stations across the border during that time referred to as the "X BAND". These stations were NOT licensed by the FCC in the US and therefore transmitting way above what would be considered allowable limits. Many of these "stations" were nothing more that a shack with an antenna, and eventually many of these stations burned to the ground due to the xmitter overheating. Hence when someone would be talking about a song they heard from these stations, hence "I heard it on the X"
Wolfman Jack “described the reach of the XERF signal: "We had the most powerful signal in North America. Birds dropped dead when they flew too close to the tower. A car driving from New York to L.A. would never lose the station." Most of the border stations broadcast at 250,000 watts, five times the U.S. limit, meaning that their signals were picked up all over North America, and at night as far away as Europe and the Soviet Union.” Source: Wikipedia
@@3tube1after909 He's exactly right about an AM broadcast signal bouncing off the ionosphere. It's also called skip. FM signal will not do that. It has a short range. I used to receive AM music stations from Chicago and Oklahoma city late at night in Phoenix, AZ in the 60s and 70s. Believe it was WLS Chicago, and KOMA Oklahoma city. Cloudy nights seemed to be the best reception for some reason. Just being 20 feet south of the US border and you could broadcast any wattage you could afford. Take that , US FCC . LOL. "Wolfman " is actually Robert Smith. Can't get any more generic than that.
When Wolfman Jack died my kids were young. We rode around all night listening to tapes of his radio shows on a local station. We had a ball.. my kids learned to like some good music. Loved the Midnight Special..❤❤❤
Wolfman Jack was doing a book signing in NYC in 1995. I worked nearby & wanted to meet him so badly & buy his book. Unfortunately, I had to get to my brother's wedding rehearsal dinner that night, so I couldn't go to the book signing. Wolfman died soon after. I still regret not going to see him that night.
Overweight and a heavy smoker, wish he would have had been helped to better health. Love his stories, he’s smart- extremely funny and a true original.Thx for posting this revealing interview. His mention of DAT recording cassette tape recording is a moment in digital leaps. DAT is long gone- but cutting edge back then. He embraced the quality and he is quite technical about audio and radio. (Q&A) At end. Great!
Wolfman, I'm 48. When I was just up from kickin, shit out of the cradle, I caught AMERICAN GRAFFITI and dude, You put a hook in me. I grew up a hotrodder and I want you to know that I've always glued you to America and me and I love you man.
use to hide dads radio under my pillow i get Wolf Man in Adelaide , south Australia i was 6 - 7 yrs old in mid 70's listening too him late at night in bed
Back in my Teen yrs while living in the Northeast we had great DJ's like Murry the ",K" in N. y. C... cousin Brucie And early on Allen Freed all in the N. Y C area.. I hadn't heard of the wolfman until i wad stationed in the Idaho area in 64'...
-In the '60s I heard him on XERB. I was in Washington state using a little 12 transistor radio, but being in the middle of nowhere sometimes I could get stations from farfar away.
Met the man in 1989 in St. Croix at a relief concert at the Wreck Bar after Hurricane Hugo. They brought out an old recliner and put it on stage and gave him a mic and he emceed the night. Stray Cats were there, along with others. It was a nice evening.
I met Wolfman Jack in 1990 at a car show in Gilroy California he was coming off the stage performing there was Little Anthony and the Imperials and the guy who sings The Lion Sleeps Tonight as what Mount was coming down the stairs when the back of the stage I caught him I asked please may I have your autograph mr. Wolfman I've been listening to you since I was knee-high to a grasshopper 1964 I was 4 years old that impressed him enough to give me his autograph we talked for a little while and then people started coming in forming a line but he said no this is not an autograph lines I'm going to rest in my motorhome that was a cool experience I also met Ray Charles in Reno Nevada at a outdoor concert that was fabulous just saying may they both rest in peace
It would be nice for this to be dated properly. Wolfman is a once in a lifetime man and experience. Some of you may not relate to the timeline ( smokin' and jokin' ) was a way of life, a lingo lost on the likes of this interviewer. I think he warmed to him later, but that snobbish brit upper lip keeps them from, GETTING IT. You may think he died young, but man, did he ever live.
Paul DG.... YEPPERS ..... THE INTERVIEWER WAS A FIRST CLASS SNOB..... I SEEN THE WOLFMAN PAUSE 3 SEPARATE TIMES AND LOOK AT THIS GUY LIKE REALLY..... WOLF DID A WONDERFUL JOB SHINING THIS DUDE OFF WITHOUT LOSING HIS COOL..... I WOULD SAY CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN ... FOR BEING SO COOL !!!!!
Mike Annese Rather rude. I’m British! I’ve never heard of this DJ and don’t know the interviewer either, but he didn’t get a question in as this DJ has lots of stories to tell and the interviewer just let him roll with it without interrupting, which is good.
Everyone in Long Beach listened to Wolfman on XERB which was broadcast out of Baja California. Like Wolfman said, the most powerful AM signal that wasn't allowed in the US. His programming, music, and commentary, including taking phone calls from teens with suggestive remarks coming back, was supreme to us teens cruising in our parent's cars. A genius of broadcasting and entertainment in that time. No frills, outlandish, funny, and often set the cultural dynamics of the time on radio. RIP my man.
Yeah I know what you mean about his suggestive calls. That was probably pretty creepy even for back then. Ironically though, and I have not read any biographies about Wolfman, but I have never have heard of any scandalous impropriety on his part, ever.
I never knew he smoked. So sad. To die of a heart attack. Heavy too. Heart ailment. He taped his last radio show the day he died. He went home and had a heart attack.
He seem like he was a real cool dude someone I would love to hang out with he just keeps it real he's not phony in anyway he tell it like it is I like that
Oh man! I only wish they had such a DJ now days. I remember listening to him and he was so entertaining. Rock n roll doesn’t sound as sweet without him in between songs.
I'm European but always been a big fan of Wolfman Jack. Loved that voice. Never heard a voice like that ever since. But Ted Williams is number 1 runner up. That's also quite a character.
God bless The Wolfman....may he rest in peace! The last freeform radio DJ was Jim Ladd........mainly on the now well-passed 94.7 KMET in LA....but he worked elsewhere as well....and now he has disappeared. In the early 2,000s here in Ventura California, we were really lucky to have a local AM radio station become 50s-60s oldies....headed by legendary broadcaster Lee Marshall (may he also RIP)...and he was in possession of the Wolfman Jack tapes, given to him by his widow.....he played them on the air once a week...that and all those great oldies...it was glorious! The station also became a syndicate for the Doctor Demento show on Sunday nights, at the time.....those were the days!!! I also remember The Midnight Special....very well.....and I have American Graffiti on DVD! This was a great interview!
I met him during he filming of American Graffiti. He was a legend.
I met him at a camp ground. He was in a van with a blonde
Hey, Wolfman! You raised us “old people”. Thank you. You’re missed. So very missed
Amen!!
@@bugsbunny6557 Amen???? He could not save your soul. He never offered to die on a cross to save the world from their sins. DUH.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv lol duh
@@NoteWorthy2023 comment was not to you. DUH.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Are you special? Democrat?
Listening to Wolfman Jack and Dr. Demento on the radio as a kid are memories I’ll never forget. Good times.
Wrong person interviewing him. Should have had someone who A. knew all about US radio and B. was a big fan of Wolfman since a child
I agree this guy had no idea itsa good thing the wolf man knew it too
Agreed. Wolfman was stumbling all over, trying to keep the interview going. The Brit didn't have a clue.
Maybe it was as refreshing for him. You know ?
@@K4tsur4gi I don't think so...
Interviewer was fine, he clearly did his research.
I remember, listening to Wolfman at the top of a mountain at night. Where I would camp at night at Lake Tahoe. I’d listen to the preachers and the people selling gospel music and collections of gospel music. Then Wolfman would come on, and there was a lot of R&B collections and send in and you get the greatest of all time R&B, cash check or money order. That was at XERB. He was an example of somebody original. There will never be anyone like him again. The last of his kind…
Thanks for sharing your story
I loved listening to the Wolfman when I was a kid,,,I wrote him a letter and he sent me an autographed picture
in east chicago indiana
Bless You Wolfman - May your Legend never die . . .
I talked to him on the phone when I was nine. Didn't really comprehend who he was.
@@danieldeneau7802 !!!!!!
I remember hearing Worlfman jack - a lot! i lived in California as a kid. My parents were hyperfundamentalist Christians who wouldn't let me listen to anything on the radio, all the way through high school. My dad bought a cheap transistor radio when I was about 12, about 1963.. I wasn't allowed to listen to it, but Dad hid it in my room! I didn't take long to find it so every night after my parents went to bed I'd haul out the radio and listen with its included earphone to rock n' roll. Shortly after that, I discovered XERB and Wolfman Jack. I am retired now but I still play rock 'n roll guitar and listen to all the good old music from that era!
Your a true legend mate✌👍
He was the best damn DJ to ever live. I had the pleasure of talking to him on his last day playing the oldies in San Diego California.
He was legendary, fascinating, and the king of his field. The man put Art leboe and Casey kasem under the table. A great loss to all of us who grew up in the sixties and seventies, and all the way to his death. RIP WOLFMAN, YOU ARE MISSED BY ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVELAGE OF GROWING UP WITH YOU. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
A lovely, gentle soul who loved everyone and just wanted to make the World a more peaceful, better place, - - - and he succeeded!
He was not Jesus Christ. He never offered to die on a cross to say the world from their sins. "WE" all deserve hell and then the lake of fire on judgement day.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Everyone’s going to Heaven, except you.
I'm sure not everyone in his life would characterize him in such glowing terms. Everyone has enemies.
The greatest American disc-jockey who ever lived.
If only he had watched his weight and had his heart checked regularly. Those dark spots under his eyes as years went by was telling the tale. Sad
Cocaine
THEMOJOMANsince1959
It was tough to be downwind of him because he smoked like a freight train. He said he couldn’t stop because he would lose his trademark voice. Set down and had dinner with him in a Vegas “all you can eat”. buffet and as it turned out I could have two plates of food and he could have four plates plus!
No no no , in the world , i am from Australia , and I can't think of any one better , pure genius
Yeah I'm no expert but I'd put some of the sixties and seventies North East DJs right after him
imagine the talent he has met. There could never be another WOLFMAN JACK.
Hard to believe the Wolfman has been gone almost twenty five years-He was a bonafide legend.
We miss you,Wolfman....AAAAAHHHHHWWWWWOOOOO!!!!!
Wolfman was our Voice back in the day. He played what we wanted to hear. He told us truth and love. I remember having a transistor under my pillow and would listen. He was on our car radios, playing in our garages, even at the drive-ins! He was our favorite Uncle and font of the best music and wisdom. RIP dear Wolfman!
I had the pleasure of listening to him in Germany .He was broadcast on the American Broadcasting Network... (1977)
Attending August Jam in August 1974 at Charlotte Motor Speedway... myself and three other Marine Brothers and I where lucky enough to maneuver our way in front of the stage. I still remember the "Wolfman," doing his thing right in front of me! Oh man, what an experience! Listened to him on CKLW back in the Detroit area when music was "King". Sure miss him!
RIP Wolfman ....
Listened to him 60s through 90s
He was fantastic.
I met the The Wolfman at a radio programming conference put on buy Billboard Magazine at the Century Plaza Hotel. It was in the early 70s. And he was charismatic.
"If I'm lying I'm dying"
Thanks Wolfman.
Iron American Dream on TH-cam.
Please play my tune on the radio.
Crickets from this interviewer. Wolfman Jack was a hero of radio! Such a personality that revolutionized the industry and moved a nation
Exactly. They had no clue or respect for the king. What a shame. Although it’s not their fault.
1987 I was playing old "Wolfman Jack Shows" on KARA 105.7fm Santa Clara. One day a listener called up and asked to talk to Wolfman. It was funny because the shows were so dated, just about everyone knew they were a decade or more old.....except for this caller :)
I HEARD YOU LIVE IN DELICIAS CHIHUAHUA MEXICO IN 1964, GLAD TO HEAR YOU AGAIN, I AM 75
I WAS A CHILD WHEN I HEARD WOLFMAN, EVERY NITE
American Graffiti didn't hurt his career one bit everyone knew who he was after that movie
wolfman was a legend xx
Everyone loved the Wolfman! Some of us got our first kisses (and more) listening to the Wolfman
“In 1973, he appeared as himself in George Lucas's second feature film American Graffiti. Lucas gave him a fraction of a "point", the division of the profits from a film, and the extreme financial success of American Graffiti provided him with a regular income for life.” Source: Wikipedia
Clap for the Wolfman! God Bless you Wolfman, a true American original.
He did not preach about Jesus Christ or Salvation through the Cross. He loved this world and all that it had to offer. 1 John 2:15-17 New Living Translation
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
James 4:4 New Living Translation
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God."
Mark 8:36 New Living Translation
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Shut up. This ain’t a damm bible beat down fool. He’s a character on radio when radio was was still a thing. What the bell are you on?
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv 🙄
He gonna rate your record high.
This was taped not long before he died. 'On July 1, 1995, Smith died from a heart attack at his house in Belvidere, North Carolina, shortly after finishing a weekly broadcast'. His book had just been released 3 weeks before he died at age 57. He gained a lot of weight, in the years before his death and he was breathless, here. He smoked, drank and did a lot of drugs. I own his book. He had a hell of a life, lived fast and died young. He's a radio inspiration, for me.
I have worked in radio, since 1989.
😲
As soon as I saw this, with his smoking and his weight, it became clear how and why he died. Yes, he entertained millions. But he also should have come to the point where he laid off the drugs, quit the booze and threw away the coffin nails. It's apparent now he never did. You can get away with this kind of lifestyle in your twenties and thirties, but it begins to take its toll on the body in the forties. If you haven't yet adopted the clean lifestyle by age 55, your chances of another thirty to forty years on this Earth go down considerably for most. Not all, but most.
@@BillBird2111 a very accurate comment how you live your life in one's early year's......reflects later on but respect to the Wolfman jack xx a true legend xx🤩😍👍
@Steve Stalzle Thanks for that fun fact-I was wondering how soon before his death this interview was made. Was this interview done in the U.K.? The interviewer has a British accent.
You nailed it, there'll never be another wolfman. My first radio slot June 18th 1979, rock on!
Wolfman was a good man. He cared about the music and the people.
...best time of the year , listening to this interview..... the greatest never die. Wolfman will always be a star in the night sky.
That is not Biblical.
"This is Wolfman Jack, signing off!"
We we'll never have a nother WOLFMANJACK
RIP MR WOLFMANJACK
ALWAYS MADE my requst on Air when I would call 11.10 A.M. K.R.L.A.
THATS AWESOME......WHERE WERE YOU FROM...I GREW UP IN LA IN THE 90S......BORN IN THE 80S...
The LEAST HIP, UNFUNNIEST interviewer EVER! Great seeing the Wolfman,
I remember many years ago hearing an interview with another legendary DJ, Bruce Morrow (AKA Cousin Brucie). He spoke very highly of Wolfman Jack. As I recall, Wolfman Jack was involuntarily replaced by Cousin Brucie at a radio station. Instead of being bitter, Cousin Brucie said Wolfman Jack was very gracious and told him he had no hard feelings. That left me with a very positive impression of the man. It has been nearly 25 years since his passing. RIP.
WOW!! A blast from the past. Loved him. hearing that great voice brings back great memories.
I met Wolfman back in 1990 at a car show in Gilroy California I remember him coming off the stage and I was the first one to greet him and I said Wolfman can I have your autograph please and he said sure and asked me for my name definitely the coolest guy in the world it was a pleasure meeting him I could die happy now LOL
I saw him in the late 80's early 90's at autograph signing in Modesto Ca
I got into radio in 1974 and it wasn’t long before my listeners started calling me Caveman Jack!
I wasn’t copying the Wolfman but people seemed to make a connection between our styles…
There’s never going to be another Wolfman Jack!!
When I was stationed at FT SILL OK..we use to hear his station from Del Rio Texas
i am from The Netherlands and never heard about this mysterious Wolfman jack, untill seeing the movie A.Grafitty many years ago. A great cult movie, but then it really
got me curious who he was. I appreciate this interview upload of the man behind Wolfman Jack. A great american DJ. And he's absolutely right, entertainment and freedom of
dj's you can't find these days. All to well controlled and to commercial. I was born at the wrong time and place i guess.
Rotterdam, Amsterdam? Yes, the wrong place. 😁
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv no, there is more then these two cities, southern NL it is, and it is beautifull, just that particular culture that fits me is al about it.
@@guidorollard2944 I know it is more than those. duh. Was just guessing. I know of many cities in NL. 😁
@@guidorollard2944 John is an idiot trolling this whole channel. He’s so jealous he can’t think.
The Wolfman was great I just didn't like the interviewer with the condescending attitude
Todd Austin it’s the upper class BBC bullshit we have to suffer here
We had JUST hiked Mt. Whitney with Johnson Family June 1969 and a couple of other hikers were listening to Wolfman Jack at 14,000 Ft We were Jaming
I could listen to Wolfman for hours
I love hearing his voice
Dont know about the greatest American jockey, most likely the worlds best! Had a radio (here in the UK) that i could listen to him on, never missed a show unless i couldnt get a signal. long live the Wolfman....
Gary Cobb only one to come close was good ol cuddly ken..
Please, a big round of applause.
Let me rephrase that.
Clap for the Wolfman!
My dad was layed to rest yesterday.i didn't really know him because i was 3 when my mom left him.i lost contact with him and didnt want anything to dobwith him because of the person he was.told to me by many.but i do have some memories of him.and this is one of them.i remember him doing the wolfman jack voice.so this is all i have since i dnt remember his voice.
Julia....your words made me cry..........Joe
he was in american graffiti in 1972 loved it “where were you in ‘62” yeahhhhh the wolf man here 😎
American Graffiti was released on August 11th1973 NOT 72.
He came up to me in Winnipeg went I was a DJ for one of the Chum radio stations and said "You look like you know where all the hot chicks are at."
He flirted with my mom when I was a kid.
I had the honor to meet The Wolfman in Kansas City at an oldies revival concert where I was a jock on WHB. What a thrill. He was gracious and polite. He was in be of my heroes.
WHB.......I remember listening to that station in the early 70's. "WHB dial 71, Kansas City, Missouri."
My dad (Eric Foxx) was one of the main guys up the river at WOW through the 70's. Started at KOIL.. I'm sure he knew your station..
We met him in person in k-town Germany in 1978-1979 can’t remember which year. He was at the NCO club for all too see and hear. I got too shake his hand and get his autograph. On a pict of his self. (I still have his signed photo ) He later dedicate a dance song to me and my spouse that night. I’ve never forgotten him. RIP wolfman.
Station XERF he mentions at 4:00 was pumpin 1,000,000 watts into the airwaves One million!
“It was at XERF that Smith developed his signature style (with phrases like "Who's this on the Wolfman telephone?") and widespread fame.” Source: Wikipedia
This video just popped up on TH-cam just this evening. Thank you!
Mr. B. Here ! Many of us miss you ! That Voice, perfect 👍👍👍👍 ! 🐺🐺🐺🐺. Gone but not forgotten !
This is a wonderful interview. It's especially interesting to those of us who worked in radio. Of course, you have to be of a certain age to have listened to the Wolfman back in the 60's and 70's. Just great info and stories. Those were the days !
I was in Radio in 1970 that was style I was taught you had be intertainer cool
@@richthepontiacguys1412 was a late radio jock back after highschool but lived in delrio at the time and got a tour of xerf.wow what big transmitters.lots of great stories of the wolfman days there.i was at smaller station kwmc on 2 occasions.good days early 80s and thanks for this interview
The interviewer looks like the late Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright.
Had the great opportunity one evening to sit right beside Wolfman at Dinner held in his honor at one of the USAF bases in Germany. He came over on a USO Tour to entertain the troops. He was extremely down to earth, and I remember he smoked those very strong Kool non-filter cigarettes. Turned out to be a very cool night....
Lucky Strikes. The cigarette without filters. They gave you cancer and killed you faster than those with filters.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Yep, my grandmother smoked those. Of all the cigarettes, she smoked Lucky Strike non-filter.
@@RockTBoat-ft5cs The quicker cancer killer. DUH. 🙄
I listen to this guy for years. He’s one of the best. 😎
Hard to believe that this interview was done in 1995. What the Wolfman said about radio today (1995) is relevant here in 2022... Music radio is a vast wasteland.
He came to Modesto, CA for an American Graffiti happening in town. I was in the Red Lion Hotel with friends when he walked in. He sat down, took his sunglasses off and eyeballed me. He kept looking, but he was so overweight and sick lookin’, I felt bad for him. This was the late 80’s. Sorry when I heard he had passed.
I remember him when he came to Graffiti Fest in Modesto, I was a DJ and Karaoke host so I knew all about him, what a great guy.
When radio was radio not today there not been a man like this since . He was real and very popular and still is . I just cant say or express the thanks for what this man gave us . one of the best radio DJ ever .We still and always will love you brother Wolfman Jack .Radio is boring and plain he played everything country, blues , Rock N Roll and so forth . We know your sprit is with us wolfman
Thank You Brother .
Hundreds of radio stations across the border during that time referred to as the "X BAND". These stations were NOT licensed by the FCC in the US and therefore transmitting way above what would be considered allowable limits. Many of these "stations" were nothing more that a shack with an antenna, and eventually many of these stations burned to the ground due to the xmitter overheating. Hence when someone would be talking about a song they heard from these stations, hence "I heard it on the X"
OMG,So That's what that ZZ Top Song was about!
Heard it on the X , makes Sense
Wolfman Jack “described the reach of the XERF signal: "We had the most powerful signal in North America. Birds dropped dead when they flew too close to the tower. A car driving from New York to L.A. would never lose the station." Most of the border stations broadcast at 250,000 watts, five times the U.S. limit, meaning that their signals were picked up all over North America, and at night as far away as Europe and the Soviet Union.” Source: Wikipedia
@@3tube1after909 He's exactly right about an AM broadcast signal bouncing off the ionosphere. It's also called skip. FM signal will not do that. It has a short range. I used to receive AM music stations from Chicago and Oklahoma city late at night in Phoenix, AZ in the 60s and 70s. Believe it was WLS Chicago, and KOMA Oklahoma city. Cloudy nights seemed to be the best reception for some reason. Just being 20 feet south of the US border and you could broadcast any wattage you could afford. Take that , US FCC . LOL.
"Wolfman " is actually Robert Smith. Can't get any more generic than that.
One of the baddest mother f'ers to walk this earth...
Goddamn right!
When Wolfman Jack died my kids were young. We rode around all night listening to tapes of his radio shows on a local station. We had a ball.. my kids learned to like some good music. Loved the Midnight Special..❤❤❤
This man is LEGEND.
Magnificent Montague!
Haven’t heard that name in a long, long time.
Wolfman Jack was doing a book signing in NYC in 1995. I worked nearby & wanted to meet him so badly & buy his book. Unfortunately, I had to get to my brother's wedding rehearsal dinner that night, so I couldn't go to the book signing. Wolfman died soon after. I still regret not going to see him that night.
He is sooooooooooo New York. Damn, we miss the Wolfman!
Loved that story....miss you Wolf Man.
Thank God for the Midnight Special. We had the BEST back in the day ❤✌
God forgive me, at that time I used to flicker one up before the Midnight Special started. Woo what days.
I can still hear his dynamic voice.
Very few people left to remember the M.S. Right on.
I just read about him. And now seeing him in this interview, I can see why he died so young. Such an icon of a bygone era.
I listened to wolf man and built model cars cause it was dark outside.
Love you and miss you wolfman.
Thanks for this, I have some radio memories also, Time Well Spent. John
Rock & Roll yourself to death!!!! Baby!! The best DJ ever RIP
The Wolfman loved his fans ,he personally answered all his fan mail and sent autograph pics....R.I.P. ONE OF A KINDA GUY
I met him at , "the Hop" in Texas back around 89. He was a huge man , and he was larger than life too.
Overweight and a heavy smoker, wish he would have had been helped to better health. Love his stories, he’s smart- extremely funny and a true original.Thx for posting this revealing interview. His mention of DAT recording cassette tape recording is a moment in digital leaps. DAT is long gone- but cutting edge back then. He embraced the quality and he is quite technical about audio and radio. (Q&A) At end. Great!
Wolfman, I'm 48. When I was just up from kickin, shit out of the cradle, I caught AMERICAN GRAFFITI and dude, You put a hook in me. I grew up a hotrodder and I want you to know that I've always glued you to America and me and I love you man.
use to hide dads radio under my pillow i get Wolf Man in Adelaide , south Australia i was 6 - 7 yrs old in mid 70's listening too him late at night in bed
Back in my Teen yrs while living in the Northeast we had great DJ's like Murry the ",K" in N. y. C... cousin Brucie And early on Allen Freed all in the N. Y C area.. I hadn't heard of the wolfman until i wad stationed in the Idaho area in 64'...
I was lucky enough to meet Wolfman Jack in person when I was young. What a cool guy.
-In the '60s I heard him on XERB. I was in Washington state using a little 12 transistor radio, but being in the middle of nowhere sometimes I could get stations from farfar away.
Met the man in 1989 in St. Croix at a relief concert at the Wreck Bar after Hurricane Hugo. They brought out an old recliner and put it on stage and gave him a mic and he emceed the night. Stray Cats were there, along with others. It was a nice evening.
I really enjoyed this, how I miss the Wolfman!
The AM station next door to my house was so powerful that you could sit in the cast bath tub and hear the radio through the Fawcett.
Skmc69. I dont know if that's true about listening thru the Fawcett's , ITS DAM SURE FUNNY !!!
I laughed at that too , remember when Gilligan got hit and could pick up radio through his head ?😀
Which Fawcett? Farrah?
I met Wolfman Jack in 1990 at a car show in Gilroy California he was coming off the stage performing there was Little Anthony and the Imperials and the guy who sings The Lion Sleeps Tonight as what Mount was coming down the stairs when the back of the stage I caught him I asked please may I have your autograph mr. Wolfman I've been listening to you since I was knee-high to a grasshopper 1964 I was 4 years old that impressed him enough to give me his autograph we talked for a little while and then people started coming in forming a line but he said no this is not an autograph lines I'm going to rest in my motorhome that was a cool experience I also met Ray Charles in Reno Nevada at a outdoor concert that was fabulous just saying may they both rest in peace
It would be nice for this to be dated properly. Wolfman is a once in a lifetime man and experience. Some of you may not relate to the timeline ( smokin' and jokin' ) was a way of life, a lingo lost on the likes of this interviewer. I think he warmed to him later, but that snobbish brit upper lip keeps them from, GETTING IT. You may think he died young, but man, did he ever live.
the king of radio stations and American history
Do ya luuuuves da Wolfffmannn?
On the big XERB BABY!
Owww Whoooo!
Bt.Dt.
The Wolfman was great to listen to in this interview, but the interviewer was useless. He seemed to think he was more important than his guest.
The British tend to do that
HE WAS GOOD IN THE WAY HE DIDN,T INTERUPT THE WOLFMAN !....////
Paul DG.... YEPPERS ..... THE INTERVIEWER WAS A FIRST CLASS SNOB..... I SEEN THE WOLFMAN PAUSE 3 SEPARATE TIMES AND LOOK AT THIS GUY LIKE REALLY..... WOLF DID A WONDERFUL JOB SHINING THIS DUDE OFF WITHOUT LOSING HIS COOL..... I WOULD SAY CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN ... FOR BEING SO COOL !!!!!
Mike Annese
Rather rude. I’m British! I’ve never heard of this DJ and don’t know the interviewer either, but he didn’t get a question in as this DJ has lots of stories to tell and the interviewer just let him roll with it without interrupting, which is good.
Everyone in Long Beach listened to Wolfman on XERB which was broadcast out of Baja California. Like Wolfman said, the most powerful AM signal that wasn't allowed in the US. His programming, music, and commentary, including taking phone calls from teens with suggestive remarks coming back, was supreme to us teens cruising in our parent's cars. A genius of broadcasting and entertainment in that time. No frills, outlandish, funny, and often set the cultural dynamics of the time on radio. RIP my man.
We always want what we can’t have. That really was a marketing tool genius.
Yeah I know what you mean about his suggestive calls. That was probably pretty creepy even for back then. Ironically though, and I have not read any biographies about Wolfman, but I have never have heard of any scandalous impropriety on his part, ever.
who forgot to unplug that damn humming cable
I never knew he smoked. So sad. To die of a heart attack. Heavy too. Heart ailment. He taped his last radio show the day he died. He went home and had a heart attack.
"We can all thank Dr. B who stepped across the line, with lots of watts he took control, the first one of its kind." Heard it on the X - Z.Z. Top
He seem like he was a real cool dude someone I would love to hang out with he just keeps it real he's not phony in anyway he tell it like it is I like that
This is hard to watch ..he died in 1995 .. not long after this interview
He's so down to earth, God bless him.
I don’t think anyone ever truly loved and enjoyed his work more than Wolfman Jack. There were none better before him or since.
Oh man! I only wish they had such a DJ now days. I remember listening to him and he was so entertaining. Rock n roll doesn’t sound as sweet without him in between songs.
I'm European but always been a big fan of Wolfman Jack. Loved that voice. Never heard a voice like that ever since. But Ted Williams is number 1 runner up. That's also quite a character.
I met the Wolfman Jack at a high school dance scene in 1970 southern California. I think the band was insence and pepermint.
THATS AWESOME....I LOVE HISTORY..
,,,,,the band was ,,,the strawberry alarm clock,,,,,the hit song was incence and peppermints...........
An Icon of the Times, Loved him in America Graffiti !
just love wolfman Jack!!!
God bless The Wolfman....may he rest in peace!
The last freeform radio DJ was Jim Ladd........mainly on the now well-passed 94.7 KMET in LA....but he worked elsewhere as well....and now he has disappeared.
In the early 2,000s here in Ventura California, we were really lucky to have a local AM radio station become 50s-60s oldies....headed by legendary broadcaster Lee Marshall (may he also RIP)...and he was in possession of the Wolfman Jack tapes, given to him by his widow.....he played them on the air once a week...that and all those great oldies...it was glorious! The station also became a syndicate for the Doctor Demento show on Sunday nights, at the time.....those were the days!!!
I also remember The Midnight Special....very well.....and I have American Graffiti on DVD!
This was a great interview!
Just seeing Wolfman Jack melts my heart again. Then he dd Midnight Special on TV.
Grateful to have been alive to catch the vibe! Thank You!
Can you imagine how famous he would be today with SiriusXM and all the social media outlets? He would have his own global brand.