The Jingle Writer Hall of Fame
The right jingle can help a company and/or product make the leap from relative obscurity to hall of fame superstar. That being said, it takes a uniquely creative mind to produce these catchy tunes, and suffice it to say that this is not the type of talent that you encounter everyday. So in ode to those pioneering jingle writers that came before us, we’d like to present our own little Jingle Writer Hall of Fame.
Barry Manilow
I am stuck on Band Aid brand 'cause Band Aid's stuck on me- Barry Manilow tops our list of all time great jingle writers for his work on such classics as the “Like a good neighbor, Statefarm is there!”, “I am stuck on Band Aid brand 'cause Band Aid's stuck on me!”, and “Give your face something to smile about with Stridex…”.
Randy Newman
Wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too? - Dr. Pepper- WIth two academy awards, three Emmys, and six Grammys Awards under his belt, Randy Newman has made a lasting impact on the music world, as well as the advertising world. Newman worked with others on this list like Barry Manilow and Jake Holmes to create the famous jingle that Dr. Pepper used in their commercial from 1977 to 1985.
Leon Carr and Leo Corday
See the USA in your Chevrolet- If you got a chance to see our top 10 jingles from the 1950’s post, then these two names should already be familiar to you. Although the classic Chevrolet jingle may be the most well known, these famous tunesmiths also collaborated on "There's No Tomorrow" and “Bert the Turtle”. Their song about a turtle named Bert was used to teach civilians the old duck and cover defense in case of a bombing.
Richard Adler
Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat- Adler was a composer and lyricist who rose to fame following the release his 1950’s Broadway smash hits “Damn Yankees” and “The Pajama Game”. After the death of his friend Jerry Ross, with whom he had written those successful broadway numbers, Adler focused his talents elsewhere and started writing lyrics for TV jingles.
Steve Karmen
I love New York!- Karmen is an American composer who has written an extensive list of jingles over his storied career. His talents were highly sought after by such brands as Budweiser Beer, Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Purina Cat Food. Amongst some of his best works include “Call Nationwide, 'Cause Nationwide Is On Your Side”, “When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All”, “Carry The Big Fresh Flavor”, and “Give That Man A Blue Ribbon”.
Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook
I’d like to buy the world a coke- These guys were both members of a close harmony group called the Kestrels in Bristol, England. It was on tour that Cook and Greenaway decided to start writing songs together. Their duo’s well known collaborations include “You’ve Got Your Troubles”, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", and “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”, which the Cook and Greenaway rewrote as “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” for Coca Cola.
Richard Trentlage
I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Wiener- In 1962, Richard Trentlage decided to enter a contest sponsored by J. Walter Thompson, the largest advertising company in the U.S. at the time. With the help of his children, whom he had sing the lyrics, his jingle for Oscar Meyer Wiener became a worldwide phenomenon! Over his career, Trentlage went on to create many other memorable jingles, such as “Buckle Up for Safety” which was used for a national safety belt educational campaign.
Jake Holmes
Don’t you wanna be a pepper?- A native of San Francisco, Jake Holmes has been writing songs ever since the early 1960’s. You may not have heard of him, but you are probably very familiar with his songs. He was the original writer of the song “Dazed and Confused” which was popularized by Led Zeppelin, and he also wrote the U.S. Army Recruitment jingle “Be All That You Can Be” during the late 1970s. Although, he has made our list of famous jingle writers for his classic “Be a Pepper” jingle! Hope you enjoyed checking out our jingle songwriter hall of fame! Any advertising or jingle company would be thrilled to have this type of talent on its roster. Were you surprised to learn that legends like Barry Manilow and Randy Newman had also made such an impact on the advertising world? Feel free to let us know what you’re thinking in our comment section below.