A SURPRISE PHONE CALL from my old friend, Rock n' Roll Hall Of Famer "WOLFMAN JACK", came while I was On-The-Air at JukeBox 96 Radio/St. Louis, New Year's Eve, 1993 ! It was totally unexpected, blew me away, and shows what a fantastic, thoughtful "Pro" that Jack really was.
I've had this locked away in my Audio Vault & Archives for all of these years and I wanted to share it with you at this Very Special time of the year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to each & everyone of you, AND my sincere thanks for making 2011 the B-E-S-T year in the history of the HALL OF FAME LEGENDS SERIES !
Jonnie King
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SPECIAL NOTE: IN THE SUMMER OF 1974, The Guess Who recorded a fitting Tribute to one of America's Premier DJ's: Wolfman Jack . It was called, simply, "Clap For The Wolfman" !
I was the Music Director at KSLQ-FM Radio in St. Louis at the time, and it was fantastic to watch this record, which became one of our most-requested, reach #6 on the Billboard Hot 100...and it stayed on there for an amazing 16 Weeks !
With all of the above in mind, I've added it to this Special Production so that you could, once again, hear it and "Clap For The Wolfman" ! Enjoy !!
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[That's the "Wolfman" above in our Juke Box 96 Studios with me standing right next to him, in this photo from my personal collection, as we check sound levels and get ready for an on-the-air Interview Session, Saturday, August 21, 1993. ]
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SOME PERSONAL NOTES:
MY FRIEND, THE LEGENDARY "Wolfman Jack", was one of the BEST. Period.
Long before you saw him in "American Graffiti", or, on NBC's "Midnight Special", the Wolfman was a broadcasting Legend, and well respected among his peers for his unique style & talent.
I first met him back in the mid-70's, and all those years later we reconnected in the Summer of 1993 when he came to St. Louis to do a Benefit for our tragic "Flood Of '93"...which left many homeless, and others just trying to pick-up the pieces of their lives in the aftermath.
He jumped at the chance to get-together again and do an On-Air Interview at "Juke Box 96" the R&R Oldies station I was working with at the time, and after the Interview we had lunch and spent some quality time with the station owner, R.J. Miller & his wife.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I was completely surprised when he called me at 11:00pm on that New Year's Eve of 1993 ! But it was just like him to do something like that, as he was very thoughtful, fully professional, and didn't forget his friends.
He passed away July, 1, 1995 after returning home from Washington, D.C. where he had just finished broadcasting his last live , nationally syndicated radio show from the Planet Hollywood. He had also been on the road promoting his new autobiography "Have Mercy !".
When he got back to his home in Belvedere, N.C., he hugged his wife, Lou, and said: "Oh, it is so good to be home !" whereupon he had a massive heart attack, and, literally, died in his wife's arms.
He was one of the kindest, gentlest, most-giving individuals I ever had the privilege of knowing.
"Wolfman Jack" was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996. R.I.P. My Friend. JK
