The Day Wolfman Jack Came to Lansing

That is something I won’t ever forget...the legendary radio personality that was made even more nationally famous when he appeared in the movie American Graffiti in 1973.

Wolfman Jack also made cameo appearances on a few rock ‘n roll hit singles, like Did You Boogie by Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids, Clap for the Wolfman by The Guess Who, and Hit the Road, Jack by The Stampeders, all in the 1970s.

One summer I guess our radio station thought it would be a good idea to get Wolfman to come to Lansing. A few calls were made, schedules were arranged, and after several weeks, Wolfman Jack graced our presence with his.

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I rode with him in an open convertible into the grounds of Riverfront Park, where he was to get on stage, do his thing, and announce whatever band was setting up to perform. After the obligatory onstage welcome to the crowd, he set up next to the stage for autographs. People were lined up for his signature and getting their pictures taken with him.

When my girlfriend sat down next to him to get a photo, he put his arm around her and ‘just happened’ to grab her breast. She couldn’t wait to tell me about it. Hmmm...

Afterward, a few of us took Wolfman to the Harrison Roadhouse for dinner. There were maybe six of us, and Wolfman made sure nobody sat next to him; he wanted to be sitting between two empty chairs. Why? Because just in case some attractive girls stopped by, he would ask them to sit next to him. It didn’t happen.

He ordered two full, complete entrees and ate every last crumb.

A few years later, I was on vacation up north and in my motel room when the news came over the TV that Wolfman Jack had passed away at age 57. It was July 1, 1995, and hearing that news took me back to the nice time years earlier when I had dinner with him.

Yeah, it reminded me of the breast incident, too.

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