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 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."
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."
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.
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."
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:
