Media Preservation Foundation Collection
(l-r) Tracy Carman, Media Preservation Foundation, Jim Wells and Jodie Lyons, Futursonic Productions. When this photo was taken in 1995, Jim and Jodie hadn't seen each other in 30 years.
Futursonic's Versatiles vocal group, 1960. (l-r) Jodie Lyons, Brian Beck, Libba Weeks, Jerry Whitman and Judy Parma.
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The Media Preservation Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of media archives, is a labor of love for Tracy Carman of Massachusetts and Don Worsham of California. In 2000, while tax-exempt status was pending for REELRADIO, Media Preservation Foundation established a fund for contributions to keep the REELRADIO web site online.
The Foundation's archives include, but are not limited to:
The Foundation's objective is to "acquire the items before they make their way to a dumpster." It is the Foundation's intention to make these archives available to the public for research and educational purposes.Don Worsham has been researching and writing a book on radio ID jingles for several years, which the Foundation hopes to publish. Collectors wishing to contribute materials to the Foundation can contact Tracy Carman via e-mail, or write The Media Preservation Foundation, Box 61223, Longmeadow, Massachusetts 01116-6223. Visit Media Preservation Foundation on the web at www.jingles.org The Foundation has received both financial and material contributions to date from the Estate of Ron Lewis; the Estate of Edith Siday; Brian Beck; Ed Brouder of Man From Mars Productions; Bob Craig of WPEN Radio; Ken R. Deutsch of Ken R., Inc.; Ben Freedman of Ben Freedman Productions division of CPMG, Inc.; Chuck Herlihy of WEAT/WIRK Radio; Radio Historian Peter Kanze; Jack Kratoville of New York's WLTW (Lite-FM); Bill Shannon of Charleston's WXLY; Doug Allen Wedge; Jodie Lyons and Jim Wells, both formerly of PAMS Productions and Futursonic Productions; and Jonathan M. Wolfert of Jam Productions, Inc. amongst countless others. |
On September 13th, 2008, a country club in Dallas was filled with friends, family, former competitors, associates and a variety of others to honor Tom Merriman. It is the first (and only) time that all of these people had been gathered under one roof, and for a very good reason…. to honor “Dallas’ own music man”. The event was fun, and meeting many people I’ve only heard of by legend, spoken to on the phone, or whose names I’ve only seen in print was absolutely mind blowing.
One person commented “Enjoy this event. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and you’ll never see this many industry people gathered in one place at one time.” He was both right and wrong. Unfortunately, tonight and tomorrow people will be gathering once again in the Dallas area, but this time to pay their final respects to Tom Merriman, who passed away last Wednesday.
You may not know him by name, but I’d bet a dozen Krispy Kremes that you’ve heard his music. As co-founder of TM Productions, his ID (and commercial) jingles graced the airwaves of hundreds of radio stations around the globe for decades. He also wrote scores for Vegas shows, musical arrangements for artists, music for theme parks and countless other audio productions that I find mind-boggling. He was the singing voice of the “Otto The Orkin Man” commercials and wrote “Do The Slurp” for 7-Eleven in the sixties. The list goes on and on and on……
It would be impossible for me to find a timely cross section of representative materials that Tom wrote and produced. In fact, at the tribute last year, a jukebox was presented to Tom with a selection of his “greatest hits” jam-packed on the CDs inside. So, instead of this, I’m pleased to provide two pieces of audio included on a limited edition CD presented to the attenders of last years event. “The TM Song” was produced in Los Angeles as part of a session for WCFL and pieced together to showcase TM and their radio station clients. “White Striped Pavements” is a cut that was part of TM’s Where Your Friends Are package and originally sung in syndication by Country music singer Janie Frickie (the version included here
was sung by Abby Holmes).
There is tons more I could add here, but I think the best I can do is say “Thanks, Tom” and offer my condolences to his wife, Jackie, and the rest of his family. May you rest in peace in jingle heaven…
MORE EXHIBITS FROM THE MEDIA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION COLLECTION!
REELRADIO, Inc. ©2009
WARNING: ADULT LANGUAGE MIGHT OFFEND THE EASILY OFFENDABLE!
Description by Uncle Ricky
Just when you think this incredible compilation of jingles couldn’t go on, it does. I’ve named it “Michael Neff Series 16 Jingle Sampler” because it opens with the voice of the PAMS Series 16 Jingle Demo – but it is so much more than that. SO much more.
At least, in this one, we get to hear Michael talking about his early interest in jingles and WCFL, and his favorite: WGAR. They had so many, and every one said: “another 50 thousand watt winner…”
Michael Neff was a legendary radio production and programming wizard who, in recent years, has maintained a professional separation from REELRADIO. Prior to that, he made several Jingle Samplers of the type heard here.
Listen. They wrote ’em in the good old days…
WARNING: OBSCENITY, MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Description by Uncle Ricky
Jackie Dickson, Carol Piper, Libba Weeks, Marv Shaw, Bill Ainsworth, Charlie Thompson, Jim Clancy, and engineer Bruce Collier all introduce themselves at the beginning of this tape created for the 1971 PAMS Christmas Party.
Like all the PAMS party tapes, it was prepared for a very select group of listeners  the employees of PAMS, and perhaps a few clients. So, here’s some ’71 fun from your friends at Media Preservation Foundation and REELRADIO.
A reminder that all PAMS material at REELRADIO is the copyrighted property of PAMS, Inc.
Description by Uncle Ricky
At the time of publication, the most we know is that this PAMS (with a little “®”) seasonal party tape was patched together sometime in the ’60’s. But we’re open to correction.
This was prepared for a very select group of listeners – the employees of PAMS, perhaps a few clients, but certainly, if you don’t “get it” – you can still enjoy it. Here’s a bit of seasonal fun from your friends at Media Preservation Foundation and REELRADIO.
A reminder that all PAMS material at REELRADIO is the copyrighted property of PAMS, Inc.
Description by Uncle Ricky
We’ve been privileged to feature Michael Neff’s 1978 Jingle Sampler in The Dan Haber Collection, since August of 1998. Mr. Neff produced a number of these jingle samplers over the years.
Now, thanks to Media Preservation Foundation, we’re presenting the sampler that Neff prepared for Christmas, 1979, while working at WGY (Albany-Schenectady, NY).
Only a few of the jingles in this sampler are genuine “Holiday” jingles, but the jingles are from stations all over America. Some were “Golden Oldies” at the time, some were more recent, like the featured WGY selections. Altogether, this is a very enjoyable exhibit, to say the least.