William B. Meeks, Jr
Encyclopedia
William Bruce Meeks, Jr. (aka William Bruce Meeks II; b. March 2, 1921 — September 8, 1999) was a producer, composer and arranger of radio jingles and founder of PAMS
in Dallas, USA.
He was also a keen woodwind, flute
, and saxophone
player. In addition, he was also an expert in music physics.
. He graduated from Sunset High School and the University of North Texas College of Music
, and was an Army-Air Force World War 2 veteran.
Bill worked in radio, both as a broadcaster and also selling advertising. He would often create jingles for some of the clients he sold time to. Eventually he decided to devote all his time to advertising
, and in 1951 he started his own company called "PAMS Advertising Agency, Inc".
For several years PAMS created commercials and sold air time for a variety of clients and very few station jingles were made. But in the mid-50s, the radio ID side off the business took off, and previosusly made individual cuts were assembled into packages that were then syndicated to stations all over America.
After the success of the first few PAMS jingle series, the company's focus slowly shifted to providing ID's to the ever growing number of top-40 radio stations. By the end of 1964, PAMS' primary business had become station jingles, and the name of the company was shortened to PAMS, Inc.
Not all of Bills ideas worked and not all his ventures were financially successful, but many of them touched the lives of millions of radio listeners, even though most outside of the industry don't know his name. Bill ran PAMS for 27 years before suspending operations in 1978, PAMS jingles were later produced by Ken R. Deutsch and Ben Freedman under the CPMG/PAMS moniker. In 1990, following court hearings, the original PAMS corporation, including all its copyrights, was purchased by JAM Creative Productions
in Dallas.
William Bruce Meeks, Jr., was born to the marriage of William Bruce Meeks (1893–1981) and Ola Lema Nations (1892–1987). He had a brother – Charles Holten Meeks (b. Sep 7, 1922; d. Jul 27, 1976) – born to the same marriage.
William Bruce Meeks, Jr., married Marjorie Ann Skaggs (b. Dec 18, 1924 in Abbeville, Lousiana; d. June 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas) on August 11, 1943 and together, they had three children: Dennis Bruce Meeks (b. 1945), Anita Louise Meeks (married to Jimmie Dee Wheeler), and Jeanne Marie Meeks (b. Apr 9, 1958; d. Aug 7, 1994 in Dallas, Texas). Bill Meeks lost his battle against cancer on September 8, 1999. He is currently survived by grandchildren Brandon, Casey, Dennis, Devon, Megan, Todd; and, his great grandchildren Arabella, Christopher, Gage, Gavin, Kaylee and Lillie.
PAMS
PAMS , based in Dallas, Texas, was the most famous jingle production company in American broadcasting. It produced identification packages for radio stations around the world, as well as some commercial music.-History:The company was founded by William B. Meeks, Jr. PAMS (an acronym for Production,...
in Dallas, USA.
He was also a keen woodwind, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player. In addition, he was also an expert in music physics.
Biography
He was born on 2nd March 1921 in Terrell, TexasTerrell, Texas
Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States, and a southeastern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,606...
. He graduated from Sunset High School and the University of North Texas College of Music
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
, and was an Army-Air Force World War 2 veteran.
Bill worked in radio, both as a broadcaster and also selling advertising. He would often create jingles for some of the clients he sold time to. Eventually he decided to devote all his time to advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
, and in 1951 he started his own company called "PAMS Advertising Agency, Inc".
For several years PAMS created commercials and sold air time for a variety of clients and very few station jingles were made. But in the mid-50s, the radio ID side off the business took off, and previosusly made individual cuts were assembled into packages that were then syndicated to stations all over America.
After the success of the first few PAMS jingle series, the company's focus slowly shifted to providing ID's to the ever growing number of top-40 radio stations. By the end of 1964, PAMS' primary business had become station jingles, and the name of the company was shortened to PAMS, Inc.
Not all of Bills ideas worked and not all his ventures were financially successful, but many of them touched the lives of millions of radio listeners, even though most outside of the industry don't know his name. Bill ran PAMS for 27 years before suspending operations in 1978, PAMS jingles were later produced by Ken R. Deutsch and Ben Freedman under the CPMG/PAMS moniker. In 1990, following court hearings, the original PAMS corporation, including all its copyrights, was purchased by JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions, Inc., is an American company that produces radio jingles, promo music for television, and commercial jingles for advertisers. It has made more radio jingles than any other jingle company and has become part of American pop culture....
in Dallas.
Family
ParentsWilliam Bruce Meeks, Jr., was born to the marriage of William Bruce Meeks (1893–1981) and Ola Lema Nations (1892–1987). He had a brother – Charles Holten Meeks (b. Sep 7, 1922; d. Jul 27, 1976) – born to the same marriage.
William Bruce Meeks, Jr., married Marjorie Ann Skaggs (b. Dec 18, 1924 in Abbeville, Lousiana; d. June 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas) on August 11, 1943 and together, they had three children: Dennis Bruce Meeks (b. 1945), Anita Louise Meeks (married to Jimmie Dee Wheeler), and Jeanne Marie Meeks (b. Apr 9, 1958; d. Aug 7, 1994 in Dallas, Texas). Bill Meeks lost his battle against cancer on September 8, 1999. He is currently survived by grandchildren Brandon, Casey, Dennis, Devon, Megan, Todd; and, his great grandchildren Arabella, Christopher, Gage, Gavin, Kaylee and Lillie.