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Why is Wolfman Jack trending on X? Fans remember beloved R&B radio DJ 30 years after his death

The radio DJ’s real name was Robert Smith
posted by Sourodeep Dey
Wednesday 7/30/2025 at 7:09AM EDT
  • Wolfman Jack on the set of American Graffiti (Image via Getty)
    Wolfman Jack on the set of American Graffiti (Image via Getty)

    Wolfman Jack, the iconic radio disc jockey known for promoting the Rhythm and Blues genre of music in the 1960s and 70s, has recently become a trending name on the social media platform, X. This development has taken netizens and cultural observers by surprise, particularly given the fact that Jack passed away 30 years ago.

    Wolfman Jack started trending on X ever since his picture was posted by an account on the social media platform. In the said picture, Jack is seen performing in front of the microphone as he looks straight at the camera lens. The particular picture posted on X was accompanied by a caption, which read,

    “I doubt anyone knows who this is!”

     

    Fans of Wolfman Jack were prompt in responding. One netizen wrote on X,

    “Robert Smith, inspired by this man’s ‘Baron Bebop’ to create his ‘Wolfman Jack’ persona; later he attended a medical bill fundraiser for Calvert and made a big donation along with a heartfelt tribute. Wolfman was a marvelous soul.”

     

    Another X user expressed his admiration for the legendary radio jockey. In reply to the post which initiated the Wolfman Jack trend, the X user wrote,

    “Do you think we are going to forget Wolfman Jack that easy!”

    Another fan of Jack went on to discuss the iconic status that he achieved in a period when media and technology had not developed in the way we are able to experience them today. The fan wrote,

    “Wolfman Jack! He thrived before today’s technology would never have allowed or needed him to spawn…Epic future!!”

    A fan referred to the ubiquity of audience’s love for Jack, and wrote,

    “Everybody knows who this is: Wolfman Jack”

    The initial post which asked netizens to identify Wolfman Jack got a fitting response when one fan responded with biographical details of the DJ. The netizen wrote,

    “Robert Weston Smith, known as Wolfman Jack, was an American disc jockey active for over three decades. Famous for the gravelly voice which he credited for his success, saying, "It's kept meat and potatoes on the table for years for Wolfman and Wolfwoman.”

     

    Wolfman Jack’s life and career explored

    Wolfman Jack was born as Robert Weston Smith in 1938, New York. His childhood experiences marked by the Great Depression era greatly influenced his life. The economic travails associated with the period of the Great Depression, along with domestic troubles and the subsequent divorce of his parents greatly impacted Jack. As per John A. Drobnicki’s entry in Encyclopedia.com, Jack admitted to being on the path of a “budding juvenile delinquent” as a result of his difficult upbringing.

    However, as fate would have it, Jack’s father gifted him a trans oceanic radio in order to curb the disturbing traits in his son’s behavior, notes the entry in Encyclopedia.com. The future DJ’s father hoped that the new gadget would keep his son occupied and consequently keep him out of trouble.

    Jack’s interest in radio communication eventually led him to skip school and work as an errand boy for WNJR-AM, an R&B station in Newark, New Jersey. It was during this period that Jack learnt about the basics of the radio broadcasting business, according to Encyclopedia.com.

    Jack’s tenure at the New Jersey radio station was also significant because of the fact that the radio station specialized in rhythm and blues music, a genre of music which greatly inspired Jack, and which he would eventually promote throughout his illustrious career in the radio industry.

     

    Jack played a significant role in introducing R&B music to white audiences. Up until the 60s, R&B music was primarily popular among the African-American population.

    Wolfman Jack went on to work as a radio disc jockey for more than three decades. His work took him to numerous parts of North America. As per Roanoke Times, Jack’s radio career took a significant turn when he started working for the Mexican Radio station, XERF-AM. It was during the 60s, when his skills began to be prominently noticed.

    However, it is noteworthy to remember that Jack’s skills were not merely on display in the world of radio. The immense cultural significance that Jack’s work had in radio broadcasting made him a cultural symbol which a large chunk of the population associated with. Wolfman Jack also played significant parts in iconic films such as George Lucas’ American Graffiti (1973), Kevin Connor's Motel Hell (1980) and Mortuary Academy (1987).

    As per the Ronanoke Times, Jack died at the age of 57 of a heart attack in 1995.

    TOPICS: Wolfman Jack, R&B