And now ... the rest of the story
Just give us a jingle
Dear Editor:
I'm Terry Thompson, professional composer, arranger,
guitarist, jingle writer and president of my jingle production
company, Terry Thompson Productions.
I just read with great interest your article [Kurt
Dahlke's Aural Report, February 2006] about your enthusiasm
and interest in the jingle, "American Equity Mortgage,
The Future Belongs To You." I am the composer, arranger
and producer of that particular jingle. When the American
Equity Mortgage Company owners came to St. Louis in 1994,
I contacted them. We eventually got together for a presentation
of my jingle compositions and arrangements. They were most
pleased with what they heard and agreed to contract with me
to compose, orchestrate and produce a custom jingle package
for American Equity Mortgage. Two weeks later I came back
to them with the slogan I created for them ("The Future
Belongs To You"), the musical composition and an arrangement
of the American Equity Mortgage jingle. There was no advertsing
agency involved with American Equity Mortgage at that time.
The whole project was simply between myself and the American
Equity Mortgage Company's president and very small staff.
I completed the compositions, score, arrangements and production
and American Equity Mortgage was extremely pleased with everything
from the get-go.
I still do all of the jingle music arrangements
directly for American Equity Mortgage. As they say, the rest
is history. It is the cornerstone of their advertising campaign
and is used in all markets where American Equity Mortgage
is located. Their headquarters is in St. Louis. That is also
where my company, Terry Thompson Productions, is located.
I would be happy to send you a CD copy of the entire 60-second
musical jingle, as American Equity's radio and TV ads usually
only play a portion of the jingle (about the last 10 or 15
seconds). As complimentary as you were, maybe that's all you
want to hear.
I'm absolutely delighted that you really like my jingle. A
jingle writer is never given a credit on the commercials that
run, so it is most gratifying to hear such nice comments about
the jingle coming from a listener.
And so as broadcaster Paul Harvey would say: "And now
you know the rest of the story!"
Sincerely and good luck always,
Terry Thompson
Terry Thompson Productions
St. Louis, MO
