Rock Radio Heaven (J)
WOLFMAN JACK
Born: January 21, 1938, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Died: July 1, 1995, Belvidere, N.C.
Also known as: The Wolfman, His real name was Robert Weston Smith. Known as Daddy Jules at WYOU and Big Smith at KCIJ.
Stations: WYOU Newport News, Va., WTID Norfolk, Va., KCIJ Shreveport, La., XERF Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, XERB-XPRS Rosarito Beach, Mexico, XTRA Tijuana, Mexico, KDAY, KRTH, KRLA Los Angeles, WNBC New York
Notes: Gained national spotlight with a cameo appearance in the 1973 movie "American Graffiti". Later hosted his own TV show, the unforgettable "Midnight Special". His life story is told in the excellent book, "Have Mercy". Wolfman died at his home in Belvidere, N.C., of a heart attack. He did his final show at Planet Hollywood just the previous evening.
CARROLL JAMES
Born: July 21, 1936
Died: March 24, 1997, Silver Springs, Md.
Stations: WHAG Hagerstown, Md.; WWDC, WPGC Washington, D.C.
Also known as: CJ the DJ
Notes: Claimed to be first to play Beatles record in U.S. (ed: not true). Had a B.O.A.C. stewardess bring the Beatles record "I Want to Hold Your Hand" over from England and he played it in December, 1963.
BWANA JOHNNY
Died: October 26, 2005, Seattle
Also known as: Birth name was Rick Johnson; was Crazy Dick Simms at KISN
Stations: KJR Seattle, KYA San Francisco, KGB San Diego, KLIF Dallas, WWDJ Hackensack, N.J., WFUN Miami, KISN Portland, Ore., KSND, KODZ, KPNW Eugene, Ore., KKBR Billings, Mont.
Notes: Died of congestive heart failure at age 56.
DAVE JOHNSON
Died: October 20, 1980, Toronto
Stations: CHUM Toronto, CFGM Richmond Hill, Ont.
Notes: Did evening shift at CHUM in the '60s and afternoon drive at CFGM in the '70s. Is one of a handful of announcers who were successful in two different formats, in his case Top 40 and country. Died of a heart attack at the age of 48.
AL JORDAN
Died: May 11, 2009, Vancouver
Also known as: The Happy Pappy
Stations: CKWX, CJOR, CFUN Vancouver, CHOK Penticton, B.C., CKOC Hamilton, Ont., CHBC Kelowna, B.C.
Notes: Hosted "Theme for Teens" program in 1953; production director at CJOR to 1954; Helped launch CHBC-TV from 1957 to 59. One of the original CFUN "Good Guys". Did commercial production for ad agencies and was a very popular commercial voice in Vancouver market.
E. RODNEY JONES
Born: August 8, 1927, Texarkana, Ark.
Died: January, 2004, Baton Rouge, La.
Stations: WVON Chicago, WXOK Baton Rouge, La.
Notes: Also worked in St. Louis radio. Died of cancer.
REX JONES
Born: February 4, 1922
Died: June 29, 1998
Stations: KLIF Dallas
Notes: Was on the air at KLIF on November 22, 1963 when John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas. His performance is captured in a very famous aircheck at reelradio.com.