MICHAEL NEFF JINGLE SAMPLERS
We Remember Michael Neff

These well-produced samplers by longtime jingle collector Michael Neff feature radio jingles from PAMS, TM, JAM and many other fine companies. "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Radio Station Jingles" includes a phone interview with JAM's Jon Wolfert.

Michael writes: "GREAT to know these are ALL in one place!!! Several 'moves' ago, I lost the MASTERS for my samplers. They were assembled on a Sony 2-track reel machine dubbing off of a Norelco mono deck. Going back and forth, track to track, this is how I made the segues. I did NOT use a traditional 'production studio.' Just my free time goofing around at home.

"For me, the 'magic' of making samplers was to feature the smaller market versions of the BIG CITY packages. The jingle elves were a spoof of the Fotomat elves -- a dominant radio campaign of the mid-70s featuring the voice work of John Bartholomew Tucker. None of this was digitally produced as digital did not exist at the time. So, there's tape hiss in abundance throughout.

"I STILL am amazed where these silly jingle samplers have surfaced over the years. And, am humbled by many Radio Pals who contacted me to say THEIR interest in the business can be traced to listening to MY samplers. So, Ted, thanks for putting a slice of my radio legacy in a place where all can hear what I 'heard' to be interesting and entertaining."

Michael Neff Jingle Sampler 1 (Summer 1977)
Michael Neff Jingle Sampler 2 (Winter 1977)
Michael Neff Jingle Sampler 3 (1978)
Michael Neff Jingle Sampler 4 (1979)
Michael Neff Jingle Sampler 5 (1981)

Back And Forth Jingle Sampler (1978)

Michael says: "'Back And Forth' I think it is from early 1978. It features a mini tribute to WCFL and WGAR, the stations that sparked my interest in jingles. I put it together when I was at WIND in Chicago."

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Radio Station Jingles (1980)

Michael says: "'Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Radio Station Jingles' was a piece I assembled for a 'Radio Pal' in Waterloo, Iowa, who used to publish an audio newsletter in the late '70s/early '80s called 'The R-R-P.' It had to have been produced when I was at WGY; so, I'm guessing 1980."

Zip file of All Michael Neff Jingle Samplers

Service For The Late Michael Neff Announced
By Radio Ink -September 29, 2021

The memorial service for Michael Neff, who worked for Seven Mountains, will be held this Saturday [October 2, 2021]. Neff died of COVID on December 31, 2020 at the age of 68. Neff’s ashes are being spread from a historic railroad bridge that he loved near Wellsboro, PA.

His 50 year radio career started in 1974 when he graduated from Ohio University. His impressive pedigree included KDKA, Pittsburgh and WIND, Chicago for Group W as Production Director. He was the Program Director for a decade at WGY and WGFM in Albany. He also was PD at WRAL, Raleigh, WMAL in Washington, WARM in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and WHP in Harrisburg. At Shamrock Communications WEJL/WBAX/WQFM/WQFN in Scranton, Neff was the Program Director for 10 years and did mornings on Oldies 92 & 100.

Retiring in 2017 as a MM for Seven Mountains Media in the Mansfield/Wellsboro PA cluster; he rejoined the group when colleague Jim Loftus, joined the company in 2018 as COO. He returned on air on WOGA. In mid 2020, Neff again stepped into the Market Manager role at WNBT/WOGA, a position he had through his sudden illness and untimely passing in late December.

"Michael will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, mentorship and great sense of humor. He was a true gentleman broadcaster," said Loftus.

Early in his career he had the nickname "SuperSplice". A tribute page highlighting his jingle samplers can be found here. [You're on it!]

A Kind Man and a Great Announcer

 
Michael Neff

If you ever heard Mike Neff’s voice, and I was fortunate to hear it often, the overwhelming emotion that would surround you would be kindness. Mike sounded warm and empathetic, and he was that and more.

Knowing Mike since the early 1970s I had an opportunity to follow his career as he worked in production and management for stations like KDKA(AM) and WIND(AM). But the entire time I knew him his passion was jingles.


Michael Neff JAM Jock Jingle Montage

Mike was kind enough to lend his vocal talents and unique sense of humor to a number of my projects including several episodes of Wonderful WORM, our Christmas party tapes (during which he played a jingle elf) and many legitimate commercials as well. He and I liked to find old black and white pictures online of people doing something or other having to do with radio, and then make up stories about them.

Here's one that Mike sent me:

Mixing religion and politics is generally viewed as a tandem topic to be avoided. However, early in my radio career, I was assigned to a program where "Faith and Farm" could work together.

As the attached photo shows, here I am hosting the wildly popular show THE GOD AND SOD HOUR.

Using the on-air name Aggree Kulture, this 60-minute, early-morning wake-up service was a mix of inspirational music and hymns, farm and market reports, and in-studio preachers.

You'll notice the picture shows me signaling the engineer to play a recording of the song "My Massey Ferguson Means More To Me Than You Do, My John Deere."


Michael Neff Strategic Media Services PAMS Series 29 jingle


Michael Neff Strategic Media Services PAMS WLS '71 jingle

Mr. Neff passed away on December 31, 2020 and I’ll miss him. So will anyone who knew him. 

Ken Deutsch
Friday, January 1, 2021


Michael Neff in his early radio days

On the January 3, 2021 edition of Jon Wolfert's Rewound Radio show, Jon did a excellent tribute to his friend Michael Neff. In case you missed it, hear it here:


Michael Neff Tribute on Rewound Radio

For more information on PAMS jingles, go to the PAMS Website.
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