A system error has occurred. July 1, 1995 - Wolfman Jack, the rock 'n' roll disc jockey whose gravelly voice and wolf howls made him one of the nation's most recognizable personalities, died of a heart attack. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He married Lucy "Lou" Lamb in 1961, and they had two children. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. "From 1958 to 1964, that's real rock 'n' roll. English BELVIDERE, N.C., July 1 -- Wolfman Jack, the legendary radio disc jockey whose gravelly voice and trademark wolf howls are synonymous with rock 'n' roll, died Saturday of a massive heart attack at his home in Belvidere, N.C. at the age of 57. 'He created a phenomenon just by playing black music at a time when pop music was still pretty segregated (in the United States),' said his son, Tod Weston Smith. He was the regular announcer and occasional host for The Midnight Special on NBC from 1973 to 1981. But few people realize that one of the most iconic figures in the music and entertainment world is laid to rest right in the North Carolina front yard of the home he shared with his beloved wife. He is survived by his wife, Lou Lamb Smith, a daughter and a son. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The last movie he appeared in was titled "Midnight" in 1989. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Birds dropped dead when they flew too close to the tower. Even a pill called Florex, which was supposed to enhance one's sex drive, was sold. BONUS! Smith finally decided to blow his own cover in the early 1970s by appearing on TV as the announcer for the syndicated late-night concert series 'The Midnight Special.' His parents divorced while he was a child. In 1962, Smith moved to country music station KCIJ/1050 in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the station manager and morning disc jockey, "Big Smith with the Records". Missing the excitement, however, Wolfman returned to border radio to run XERB, and opened an office on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in January 1966. He was previously married to Lucy Lamb. He played himself in "American Graffiti" and had cameo on-screen and voice-overs in other feature films. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Proby remembers jiving with Wolfman on the radio, when Proby released a record under the pseudonym Orville Woods. Try again. Although his influence as a disc-jockey waned, he continued to broadcast, and had recently completed a 20-day trip to promote his new book, Have Mercy: the confession of the original party animal, about his early career and parties with celebrities. The station's signal blanketed much of the United States. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Wolfman Jack is a legendary DJ who rises during the 1960s as one of the world's first "shock jocks". Peel then plays excerpts of Wolfman Jac. Wolfman Jack was born Robert Weston Smith, in Brooklyn, New York, on January 21, 1938. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) and Motel Hell (1980). Born January 21, 1938 Died July 1, 1995 (57) We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Morgan. From 1958 to 1964, that's real rock-and-roll. His memorable cameo in American Graffiti played with the difference between his real . He made his last radio appearance on Friday night from the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Washington. Wolfman Jack is portrayed by Jack Black in the 2022 satirical biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Message in a bottle travels more than 185 miles in Australia. He appeared on the TV series "What's Happening" in 1976 and was also the host of his own show titled "The Wolfman Jack Show" that same year. He also voiced the chief of the Rama Lama tribe on the TV special Garfield in Paradise in 1986. BELVIDERE, N.C. (AP) _ Wolfman Jack, the rock n roll disc jockey whose gravelly voice and trademark wolf howls made him one of the nations most recognizable voices, died Saturday of a heart attack. World's Ugliest Dog contest seeking unalluring canines for 2023 competition. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Wolfman appeared in the movie "Mortuary Academy" in 1988. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A Michigan woman said a Powerball ticket found forgotten in the pocket of her husband's coat turned out to be a $1 million winner. In 1973, he appeared as himself in George Lucas's second feature film American Graffiti. There was a problem getting your location. The next year, Wolfman Jack began hosting televisions ``Midnight Special and moved to New York to work for WNBC radio. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Wolfman Jack Funeral. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). George Lucas typecast him as a mysterious deejay in his coming-of-age film American Graffiti (1973), and the Wolfman went on to host television's . in. Wolfman Jack died in Belvidere, North Carolina on July 1, 1995. They didn't give our boys long enough.". Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He was 57. "Everybody in America has a clear memory of that voice. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. Todd Rundgren, the Guess Who, Leon Russell and Freddie King all wrote songs about him. When the one surviving ship in what had originally been a pirate radio network of Radio Caroline North and Radio Caroline South sank in 1980, a search began to find a replacement. He had a hit on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1972 titled "I Ain't Never Seen." Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. ). Wolfman enjoyed national popularity. XERF's 250,000 watts was five times the power allowed on American radio stations at the time, giving the Wolfman a rapt teenage audience almost all the way across America. Following this appearance on film, Wolfman Jack continued making sporadic appearances on the screen, including appearing on the television program Married with Children.Sadly, Wolfman Jack passed away in 1995 at the age of only 57. Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA, Belvidere, Perquimans County, North Carolina, USA. The film made the Wolfman the most famous disc-jockey in America, celebrated in songs by Todd Rundgren and Leon Russell and an American hit for the Guess Who, "Clap for the Wolfman". The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Freed both adopted this name and used a recorded howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. Wolfman Jack started his recording career in Minneapolis while working at KUXL Radio in 1965 with George Garrett, who helped record the album Boogie with the Wolfman by Wolfman Jack and the Wolfpack on the Bread Label. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Zoo Miami in Florida confirmed a Malayan tapir briefly escaped from its enclosure Tuesday before being safely contained about an hour later. Although Smith was managing a Minneapolis radio station, he was still broadcasting as Wolfman Jack on XERF via taped shows that he sent to the station. Then the Beatles hit and everyone sounded like them. His distinctive voice and musical tastes were spread around the globe through syndication. Powerball ticket forgotten in coat pocket turns out to be $1 million winner. They had 2 children together. If you have a loved one that you would like mentioned on our program, please contact us. "It's real American music - what rock 'n' roll originally was before people turned it around and sideways and upside down," he said in an interview in 1988. (It eventually returned in 1983 from a new ship, which remained at sea until 1990.) A few years earlier, Todd Rundgren recorded the tribute "Wolfman Jack" on the album Something/Anything? American DJ and music TV host (19381995), John A. Drobnicki, "Wolfman Jack (Robert Weston Smith)", in, John A. Drobnicki, "Wolfman Jack (Robert Weston Smith)". Join us every Halloween for the classic Wolfman Jack's Halloween Special! The Wolfman, whose real name was Robert Smith, had returned home to this northeast North Carolina town earlier in the day after a 20-day trip to promote his book ``Have Mercy when he collapsed, said Lonnie Napier, vice president of Wolfman Jack Entertainment. "It's kept meat and potatoes on the table for years for Wolfman and Wolfwoman. Ed Perva Jr was my brother. On Diamond D's 1992 album Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop, a parody of Wolfman Jack is done on the skit "Wuffman Stressed Out". Make sure that the file is a photo. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Museum of Broadcast Communications 360 North State Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States (312) 245-8200 Hours Mon Closed Tue 10am - 6pm Wed 10am - 6pm Thu 10am - 6pm Fri 10am - 6pm Sat 10am - 6pm Sun 10am - 6pm Produced by Kroeger Media, The Classic Rock and Classic Hits shows includes the biggest Rock artists from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Robert Smith (Wolfman Jack), disc-jockey: born Brooklyn, New York 1939; married (one son, one daughter); died Belvidere, North Carolina 1 July 1995. Robert Weston Smith (January 21, 1938 July 1, 1995), known as Wolfman Jack, was an American disc jockey active from 1960 till his death in 1995. He began working on his career by enrolling in the Academy of Broadcasting in Washington D.C and supported his studies through door-to-door . Oops, something didn't work. Wolfmans initial radio success came via his time working with the radio station XERF-AM, broadcast from Mexico.Contents of this video00:00 - Intro00:47 - Body06:53 - OutroLike this content? You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. In 1978, there was an animatronic band called the Wolf Pack 5. Wolfman Jack was a hero of sorts to me -- a guy who played the music I loved and did so much to popularize it around the world. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Wolfman Jack on XERB Oct. 17, 1967. He was an actor, known for American Graffiti (1973), Sgt. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Most of his audience assumed he was black, and his most conspicuous service was as one of a small band of white disc-jockeys - "Poppa Stoppa" in New Orleans, Dewey Philips at WDIA Memphis and John Richbourg at WLAC Nashville were others - who broke the racial barrier which had traditionally surrounded black music. We obtain information from all surrounding funeral homes pertaining to local citizens. Weve updated the security on the site. These 20 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In North Carolina In the 1930s, Theres A Petting Zoo Right Next To A Paintball Center In North Carolina, Making For A Fun-Filled Family Outing, 10 Best Places To Stay In the Outer Banks In North Carolina, The Unique Restaurant In North Carolina Where Every Order On Monday Comes With 2 Free Kids Meals, The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This North Carolina City Is Truly Frightening, Most People Dont Realize These 10 Famous People Are Buried In North Carolina, 29 Famous People You Had No Idea Were From North Carolina, The Staggering Tale Of This Italian Mummy In North Carolina May Leave You Speechless. "It took the Wolfman from a cult figure to the rank of American flag and apple pie," he once said. Resend Activation Email. It was not until he played himself in the 1973 film "American Graffiti" that fans could match the voice with a face. To that end, he recorded a number of programs that never aired, because the station did not come on air according to schedule. XERB also had an office in the rear of a small strip mall on Third Avenue in Chula Vista, California just 10 minutes from the TijuanaSan Diego border crossing. She ran a red lightand was hit by an oncoming car. Wow. He could do with an R&B record what Dick Clarke could do with a Bobby Rydell record - make it a hit.". At each appearance, he looked a little different because he had not decided what the Wolfman should look like. "It's kept meat and potatoes on the table for years for Wolfman and Wolfwoman. I lover her still. Smith also played himself in the 1973 film 'American Graffiti,' director George Lucas's tribute to hot rods and rock 'n' roll. He was feeling really good," said Lonnie Napier, vice-president of Wolfman Jack Enterprises. !, Vega$, Hollywood Squares, Married with Children, Emergency!, The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, and Galactica 1980. 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