In the early days of rock, when all that we had was AM radio, Wolfman Jack taught us how to rock.

Clap for the Wolfman
He gonna rate your record high
Clap for the Wolfman
You gonna dig him til the day you die

These words are from the opening of the song “Clap for the Wolfman” by the Guess Who….and it’s not just any DJ that gets songs written about them!

Bob Smith, aka Wolfman Jack, borrowed some strong style ideas from the king of DJs. Alan Freed. Freed had used the name Moondog at the start of his Rock and Roll career; Smith used the moniker Wolfman. Freed used a howl in his broadcasts, Smith borrowed the howl and took it further adding his low gravely voice.

The Wolfman gained fame while broadcasting from XERF-AM, a super power radio station in Mexico, just over the border at Del Rio, Texas. AM stations in the US were limited at the time to 50 KW, XERF in Mexico was broadcasting at 500 KW and could be received across the US and into Canada. He played a wild mix of music, mixing in rockabilly, blues, doo-wop, zydeco, rhythm and blues, and jazz.  These styles were all the parents of rock. And of course, he played rock and roll.  Wolfman Jack’s nightly show brought them all together and introduced fans of each style to the new rock.

His music selections led many listeners to assume that he was Afro-American, and he did his best to hide his true identity. Some say that if it were known that he was a white boy from Brooklyn, the frequent howls and sexually suggestive persona wouldn’t have had the same effect. The Wolfman passed away in 1995, but reruns of his shows are still being played.

Wolfman Jack’s Honors

The Wolfman is a member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.