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Wolf Man Jack Biography
Wolf Man Jack was the master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the 60s on radio, and later on television during the 70s. In the early 1960s, when much of the airwaves were segregated, Bob Smith created his shadowy wild man alter ego so that he could DJ on the radio the "rhythm and blues" race records he loved so much. As the enigmatic Wolf Man Jack, the young white man from Brooklyn, one of New York's toughest neighborhoods, could easily hide behind a voice that masked his true ethnic roots. Many teens first discovered The Wolf Man while scanning the AM radio band as they cruised Main Street U.S.A. Out of the night came a howling, ethereal voice amid a collection of rock 'n' roll, inner-city ethnic rhythm, and deep south blues records that wouldn't be found on any "legal" radio station.
Wolf Man Jack had a young audience from XERF-AM, just south of Cuidad Acuna, Mexico, where the 250,000 watt signal, five times more powerful than any U.S. radio station, blanketed most of North America. Without the benefit of traditional advertising, it was word of mouth that spread the news about the provocative Wolf Man and his nonconformist style, the kind of style that horrified parents, making it all the more appealing to a growing legion of young followers. But the Wolf Man Jack story began much earlier, in 1949, when radio reached through to a troubled youngster. As the Fifties arrived and rock 'n' roll music found its way into suburban America, Bob Smith imagined himself behind the mix spinning the turntables, and taming that jive DJ talk. His over the air heroes, black and black-influenced DJs like Dr. Jive, Jockey Jack, Professor Bob, Sugar Daddy, and others spoke to him, taking him to a secret place, away from the pain of still growing up, off into a world of music unlike anything his family could understand.
At age 16, Bob found himself struggling to survive on the streets and stay out of the gangs. Once again, his refuge was the radio. DJ Alan Freed, the legendary king of New York rock and roll radio, was the first to promote big shows at venues like the Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn and while many of his friends were hanging out on the neighborhood streets, Bob was waiting at the stage door of the Paramount, hoping to meet Freed, or one of the many popular recording stars appearing on his show. His persistence paid off when he was allowed to work the backstage area as a "gofer". It was there he met the great talents of the day, like Jackie Wilson and other great revue stars of the time.
Across the river, in New Jersey, Bob hung out at WNJR-AM, a black-programmed radio station, and it was here his primary education in radio began. Still, the road to becoming the world's most famous DJ was a very long one with many stops in between.
Not yet 21 years old, Bob loaded up his car, determined to reach Hollywood and find his fortune, but he got only as far as Alexandria, Virginia, making a stop that lasted two years. Living with his sister and brother-in-law in Alexandria, Bob worked at various jobs while studying for his FCC license at the National Academy of Broadcasting. Supporting himself by selling door-to-door everything from encyclopedias to Fuller brushes, he spent his nights studying complicated mathematics needed to obtain his radio engineering license. It seems he had found his calling, as the high-school dropout easily rose to the head of his class with a straight A average.
His first professional radio job was at WYOUAM, Newport News, Virginia where Bob took his first air name "Daddy Jules" using the strong influence black DJs had on his early years. His natural style and energy led to a large following of listeners and soon, Daddy Jules was a popular attraction at local teen dances
Remembering the success of Alan Freed's shows in New York, Bob thought he could create a venue for rhythm and blues in the Newport News area, so he opened a dance club. The integrated club, not especially popular in 1961, got the attention of the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan and threats were made, ending in a cross burning on the lawn of his house. But even Virginia was just a stop on the road to fame. In 1962, Bob moved on to Shreveport. Louisiana where he quickly became a ratings success on KCIJ-AM as "Big Smith with the Records" Still, the potential of a local radio station couldn't begin to fulfill his dream of becoming a nationally known DJ. Yet, it was here that The Wolf Man Jack character actually first came to mind while Bob was playing records on KCIJJust a hop, skip, and a jump from Shreveport was the home base of XERF-AM, a super powerful radio station in Mexico, just over the border at Del Rio, Texas. Filling its air time with U.S. based preachers selling all sorts of religion, XERF was reaching millions of listeners across North America, and by all accounts was making millions for the preachers who bought time on the station.
The true odyssey from Louisiana, to fame and fortune as Wolf Man Jack on XERF in 1964, equals any Hollywood fabricated mini series you might see on TV, complete with bags stuffed with hundred-dollar bills in the trunk of a Cadillac convertible, and a shoot-out at the desert compound where the XERF transmitter was located.
Wolf Man Jack was the master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the 60s on radio, and later on television during the 70s. In the early 1960s, when much of the airwaves were segregated, Bob Smith created his shadowy wild man alter ego so that he could DJ on the radio the "rhythm and blues" race records he loved so much. As the enigmatic Wolf Man Jack, the young white man from Brooklyn, one of New York's toughest neighborhoods, could easily hide behind a voice that masked his true ethnic roots. Many teens first discovered The Wolf Man while scanning the AM radio band as they cruised Main Street U.S.A. Out of the night came a howling, ethereal voice amid a collection of rock 'n' roll, inner-city ethnic rhythm, and deep south blues records that wouldn't be found on any "legal" radio station.
Wolf Man Jack had a young audience from XERF-AM, just south of Cuidad Acuna, Mexico, where the 250,000 watt signal, five times more powerful than any U.S. radio station, blanketed most of North America. Without the benefit of traditional advertising, it was word of mouth that spread the news about the provocative Wolf Man and his nonconformist style, the kind of style that horrified parents, making it all the more appealing to a growing legion of young followers. But the Wolf Man Jack story began much earlier, in 1949, when radio reached through to a troubled youngster. As the Fifties arrived and rock 'n' roll music found its way into suburban America, Bob Smith imagined himself behind the mix spinning the turntables, and taming that jive DJ talk. His over the air heroes, black and black-influenced DJs like Dr. Jive, Jockey Jack, Professor Bob, Sugar Daddy, and others spoke to him, taking him to a secret place, away from the pain of still growing up, off into a world of music unlike anything his family could understand.
At age 16, Bob found himself struggling to survive on the streets and stay out of the gangs. Once again, his refuge was the radio. DJ Alan Freed, the legendary king of New York rock and roll radio, was the first to promote big shows at venues like the Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn and while many of his friends were hanging out on the neighborhood streets, Bob was waiting at the stage door of the Paramount, hoping to meet Freed, or one of the many popular recording stars appearing on his show. His persistence paid off when he was allowed to work the backstage area as a "gofer". It was there he met the great talents of the day, like Jackie Wilson and other great revue stars of the time.
Across the river, in New Jersey, Bob hung out at WNJR-AM, a black-programmed radio station, and it was here his primary education in radio began. Still, the road to becoming the world's most famous DJ was a very long one with many stops in between.
Not yet 21 years old, Bob loaded up his car, determined to reach Hollywood and find his fortune, but he got only as far as Alexandria, Virginia, making a stop that lasted two years. Living with his sister and brother-in-law in Alexandria, Bob worked at various jobs while studying for his FCC license at the National Academy of Broadcasting. Supporting himself by selling door-to-door everything from encyclopedias to Fuller brushes, he spent his nights studying complicated mathematics needed to obtain his radio engineering license. It seems he had found his calling, as the high-school dropout easily rose to the head of his class with a straight A average.
His first professional radio job was at WYOUAM, Newport News, Virginia where Bob took his first air name "Daddy Jules" using the strong influence black DJs had on his early years. His natural style and energy led to a large following of listeners and soon, Daddy Jules was a popular attraction at local teen dances
Remembering the success of Alan Freed's shows in New York, Bob thought he could create a venue for rhythm and blues in the Newport News area, so he opened a dance club. The integrated club, not especially popular in 1961, got the attention of the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan and threats were made, ending in a cross burning on the lawn of his house. But even Virginia was just a stop on the road to fame. In 1962, Bob moved on to Shreveport. Louisiana where he quickly became a ratings success on KCIJ-AM as "Big Smith with the Records" Still, the potential of a local radio station couldn't begin to fulfill his dream of becoming a nationally known DJ. Yet, it was here that The Wolf Man Jack character actually first came to mind while Bob was playing records on KCIJJust a hop, skip, and a jump from Shreveport was the home base of XERF-AM, a super powerful radio station in Mexico, just over the border at Del Rio, Texas. Filling its air time with U.S. based preachers selling all sorts of religion, XERF was reaching millions of listeners across North America, and by all accounts was making millions for the preachers who bought time on the station.
The true odyssey from Louisiana, to fame and fortune as Wolf Man Jack on XERF in 1964, equals any Hollywood fabricated mini series you might see on TV, complete with bags stuffed with hundred-dollar bills in the trunk of a Cadillac convertible, and a shoot-out at the desert compound where the XERF transmitter was located.
