Commercial Recording Corporation (CRC) was started in 1955 by Tom Merriman, Hoyt Hughes, and Charlie Meeks. Merriman, like PAMS’ Bill Meeks, had worked with radio pioneer Gordon McClendon at KLIF. In April 1957, the company created the first modern ID jingle package produced in Dallas (CRC Series #3.)
Near the end of 1958, Merriman created a new package for WHBQ (Memphis), one of the Don Lee RKO stations. It was CRC Series 8, featured here. This was the original “Wonderful” package and it featured Merriman’s distinctive “dance band” style of arranging. San Diego station KCBQ received this package. In addition to pilot station WHBQ, CRC Series #8 ran on WDGY WBZ, WAKE, WISH, KIOA, WODY, KRIO, WADO, WKHM and nearly every major Top 40 station in the country.