BajaNomad

Rosarito Radio station in the 1950's

susanna - 5-4-2009 at 02:38 PM

Does anyone remember a radio program with Wolf Man Jack out of Rosarito? Growing up in the 50's we use to listen to it in the Central Valley. How many Nomads remember it ?

David K - 5-4-2009 at 02:41 PM

For me, it was in the 60's... Listened to Wolfman Jack on XERB, Rosarito, Baja Califonia, Mexico!

DENNIS - 5-4-2009 at 02:58 PM

Oh Yeah...The Wolfman in the 50s and beyond. They did that in Rosarito because they could send a signal at 50,000 watts instead of the lesser strength required by the FCC at the time. It's still done regularly. There's a small studio in Chula Vista that broadcasts slimey lounge lizzard music to a repeater in Rosarito and from there to your radio in Omaha.
Last time I saw the Wolfman was in the movie, American Graffiti.

Thanks for the memories.

CortezBlue - 5-4-2009 at 03:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by susanna
Does anyone remember a radio program with Wolf Man Jack out of Rosarito? Growing up in the 50's we use to listen to it in the Central Valley. How many Nomads remember it ?


"My My Baby, who we got on the phone?"

Hook - 5-4-2009 at 03:13 PM

He was never on from Mexico in the 50s. The earliest was 1962 on XERF out of Ciudad Acuna and then later on with XERF/B and the famous Chula Vista studio and Rosarito Beach transmitter.

His real name? Bob Smith.

bajalou - 5-4-2009 at 03:43 PM

Remember in the 40s - 50s the XERF in Ciudad Acuna - with all the stuff they were selling, "Just send your money to ----, Del Rio Texas". Mostly country as I remember it. Caught it mostly at night in western Colorado.

susanna - 5-4-2009 at 04:13 PM

Does anyone remembers any of the popular songs that Wolfman Jack played ? Also what would you consider the type of music nowadays ? Was it R and B ? I was a young teenager and don't remember. Come on you Guys and Gals out there !

jeans - 5-4-2009 at 05:04 PM

Actually Woldfman Jack had syndicated shows up into the 80's. I worked for a radio station in Big Spring, TX in 1986 and sold ads for the show. I would send Wolfman the names of the sponsors and what specials they wanted to promote. One sponsor was Marquez Bros.TV. They were promoting small 15" TVs. Wolfman sends back a track with several takes of the commercial. It's a good thing there were more than one because we could not use the version that had him crooning at the end..
Ohhhh BABY...I wish I had a 15 incher! HA!

Ya know you can hear him.....;)

Crusoe - 5-4-2009 at 05:38 PM

Wolfman Jack was way ahead of his time. He had the F.C.C. out smarted. Very, very entertaining, compared to all the other broadcasters. A bunch of us young surfer boys would sit in our vehicles in the parking lot of the old Rondievu (sp?) Ball Room in the early 60's in Newport Beach drinking cheap hooch and laughing our guts out before going in and listening to Dick Dale and checking out all the chicks. Those were truly the good old days. ++C++ ;D;D;D

24baja - 5-4-2009 at 05:51 PM

I didn't know who Wolfman Jack was until American Graffitti came out in the 70's.

DENNIS - 5-4-2009 at 06:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Crusoe
listening to Dick Dale


Don't forget the Del Tones. :bounce:

Alan - 5-4-2009 at 07:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by susanna
Does anyone remembers any of the popular songs that Wolfman Jack played ? Also what would you consider the type of music nowadays ? Was it R and B ? I was a young teenager and don't remember. Come on you Guys and Gals out there !

You were a young teenager and don't remember the Wolfman? You may lose the right to ever be considered as having once been a teenager!

I was in the Navy when American Graffiti was first released. It was so funny to watch that with guys from all over the states and after it was over every one of us swore it was written about our hometown. It was amazing that something out of Hollywood could capture a generation so well.

Alan - 5-4-2009 at 07:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by susanna
Does anyone remembers any of the popular songs that Wolfman Jack played ?
Go rent American Graffiti as that will give you an idea of the wide spectrum of music he played. Do Wop, Surf guitar, R&B, ballads from a wide range of groups; Frankie Valli, The Ventures, Dick Dale and the Deltones, the Righteous Brothers, Marti Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.

Nowadays I think they just classify them as Moldy Oldies. :lol:

[Edited on 5-5-2009 by Alan]

[Edited on 5-5-2009 by Alan]

Cardon Man - 5-4-2009 at 08:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Crusoe
Wolfman Jack was way ahead of his time. He had the F.C.C. out smarted. Very, very entertaining, compared to all the other broadcasters. A bunch of us young surfer boys would sit in our vehicles in the parking lot of the old Rondievu (sp?) Ball Room in the early 60's in Newport Beach drinking cheap hooch and laughing our guts out before going in and listening to Dick Dale and checking out all the chicks. Those were truly the good old days. ++C++ ;D;D;D


Those sound like good times. 30 years before my time but good times....

susanna - 5-4-2009 at 09:21 PM

I said i did not remember the kind of music he played , not that i didn't remember Wolfman Jack. I must of been like twelve or thirteen yrs old.

24baja - 5-4-2009 at 11:24 PM

Alan, I did not know Wolfman, because in Grants Pass Oregon we were lucky if our radio stations played western and easy listening music after all Rock & Roll was the devils music!

Stickers - 5-4-2009 at 11:47 PM

"CAN YOU DIG IT" :cool:

BajaGringo - 5-5-2009 at 12:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Frankie Valli, The Ventures, Dick Dale and the Deltones, the Righteous Brothers, Marti Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.


And a few more I pulled off my ipod:

Aretha Franklin
Association
Barbara Lewis
Beach Boys
Bill Withers
Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Vinton
Byrds
Chilites
Classics IV
Dave Clark Five
Del Shannon
Diana Ross & Supremes
Four Tops
Gary Lewis & Playboys
Gerry & Pacemakers
Hermans Hermits
Jackie DeShannon
Lettermen
Marvin Gaye
Percy Sledge
Petula Clark
Ramones
Sam Cooke
Smokey Robinson
Shirelles
Temptations
Zombies

I am sure there are lots more we missed....

fdt - 5-5-2009 at 07:44 AM

http://www.xerbradio.com/

David K - 5-5-2009 at 07:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
http://www.xerbradio.com/


FANTASTIC!!! Thanks Ferna, that's when I was listening tio the Wolfman (1967-1969) nightly on XERB.

fdt - 5-5-2009 at 07:56 AM

And XERB transmitted from Rosarito Beach, that is the what the RB stands for but ever since Rosarito became it's own municipality and no longer a part of Tijuana, were the transmitter is, no longer belongs to Rosarito, actualy it is in San Antonio de los Buenos wich remained as part of Tijuana.

I remember listening to the Lakers in Spanish here in central CA

BajaVida - 5-6-2009 at 07:08 PM

and hearing about Kareem's "esky hoook"

Fred - 5-7-2009 at 12:47 PM

The mighty 690. Heck, I thought Wolf Man was black until I saw him at El Monte Legion Stadium.

I thought the same about Johnny Otis

BajaVida - 5-17-2009 at 07:41 PM

of Hand Jive fame

Bajahowodd - 5-17-2009 at 11:19 PM

Interesting that so many of you recall Wolfman from his days in Baja. when he was doing his thing out of Del Rio TX, the signal reached almost all the way across the United States. Long haul truckers were among his fans. As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I had wondered initially what became of Jack when he disappeared from the Del Rio gig. My recollection was that although the ridiculous 250,000 watt transmitter was in Ciudad Acuna, that he did his work North of the Border. By the way, many years ago, Mexico signed treaties that eliminated such powerful transmitters.

CaboRon - 5-18-2009 at 06:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Interesting that so many of you recall Wolfman from his days in Baja. when he was doing his thing out of Del Rio TX, the signal reached almost all the way across the United States. Long haul truckers were among his fans. As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I had wondered initially what became of Jack when he disappeared from the Del Rio gig. My recollection was that although the ridiculous 250,000 watt transmitter was in Ciudad Acuna, that he did his work North of the Border. By the way, many years ago, Mexico signed treaties that eliminated such powerful transmitters.


Wolfman Jack out of Del Rio Texas (50,000 watt clear channel)

It was the most awesome show to listen too...

CaboRon