[DevawebMember]

I'm afraid I have some sad news. Tom Merriman, the beloved co-founder of TM and friend/mentor to so many people in the industry, passed away this morning.

I'm sure I speak for many when I say that his work will last many more generations, both heard on the air across the world, and loved by those in radio.

For the newer jingle enthusiasts, the Tom Merriman Tribute site has more about Tom. It's a record of the excellent evening in 2008 that celebrated much of his work, and can be found here.

http://www.tommerrimantribute.com/site/

A tribute is also being posted onto TM's site today.

Chris

[cando24]

Very sad news indeed. I was privileged to attend the Tom Merriman Tribute in Dallas last year where I caught up with many old friends and met quite a few new ones as well.

I did speak with Tom for a little bit that night. I worked with TM Canada for a few years and Tom flew up and recorded a custom package for CKFM in Toronto (now Virgin Radio). He conducted a huge orchestra consisting of most of Canada's top studio musicians and Tom had them eating out of the palm of his hand.

Mr. Merriman was, is, and will continue to be an inspiration for everyone who loves jingles.

My condolences to Jackie and the entire Merriman family.

[amigoMember]

Sad, sad news, condolences to his family and friends.

Amigo

[mbMember]

The Radio ID indusrty was built by a few Giants.
Tom was one of those giants.
Very sad news.

[JingleMadMember]

What a vary sad story.

Thanks chris for telling us.

My prares are with his family.

R.I.P. Tom Merryman. You will be mist.

[IainJohnstonMember]

So sorry to hear this – his creativity and musical influence on radio IDs and other production music, especially in the early 1970s when the original “TM Productions” really rose to the fore, was simply immense.

IJ

[tyty21]

R.I.P, Tom. you will surely be missed. I am a big dallas jingle company fan, and TM is in the top 2, along with jam. I still listen to your jingles. love it!

[JAM / PAMSMember]

As a composer, arranger and orchestrator, Tom Merriman was an amazing pro. He could hear complex arrangements in his head and write them down with incredible speed (sometimes even on his way to the session). The music he created over the course of his career was always inspired and inspiring. But he was always more interested in talking about the next project than re-living the old ones.

In the world of radio IDs, Tom will always be most closely linked with the amazing early years of TM Productions, which he co-founded with Jim Long. But in later years he did team up with others, and also worked on his own. I was fortunate to be able to work with Tom on several JAM projects. Not only were the results always perfect, but Tom would insist on coming over before the session to play his ideas on the piano for me. His concern was always to please the client, and he would never hesitate to make a change or a correction if I asked him to. And he's the only writer I can think of who sent me hand-written thank you notes at the conclusion of each job.

I join all the producers, musicians, singers and engineers who had the opportunity to work with this talented man over the course of his long career, as well as the millions who were touched by his work, in saying “thanks, Tom”. Rest in peace.

[ratnobMember]

So sorry to hear this news, and fascinated in the tributes from those in the industry to learn more about the man who was such a legend to all of us. As JMW says, “Thanks, Tom”.

[Bigdave]

There are few that the word legend can be attached to when covering their life and work.

One such person deserving such a title though,is Tom Merriman.

His input into shaping the sound of modern radio should stand as testimony to his talents,and should be celebrated in the way it is intended.After all,if it hadn't been for KLIF (and their need for some form of musical identification) giving Tom his opportunity,then things could have been so much different on the air…..and of course,in Dallas.

Our thoughts at this time are with Jackie,his partner,and all his close family and friends.

Goodbye Tom,and god bless. Most of all,thanks for the memories you've given us.

[theniceguy]

He will be truly missed. It's nice his tribute to the industry was acknowledge during his lifetime. And last sunday he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Ken Justiss accepted the award on his behalf.

http://www.texasradiohalloffame.com/13%20Tom%20Merriman.JPG <http://www.texasradiohalloffame.com/13 Tom Merriman.JPG> (slide while intro played).

http://www.texasradiohalloffame.com/ (A couple photos http://www.texasradiohalloffame.com/tommerriman-intro-remarks.mp3 (Intro by Ron Chapman and acceptance by Ken Justiss – about 5 min)

For those of you that can read dutch, http://www.jingleweb.nl/html/spotnl.html has some nice stories about Tom

Picture courtesy of Ken Justiss

[Inferno]

I would like to echo everyone's comments here. Tom was a great jingle producer and his standards were very high. He will be missed but his music will always live on.

My thoughts are with his family and his friends.

Rest in peace Tom.

[freq-ky]

I cannot add anything else to what you have all written.For me,hearing what he contributed across the decades along with his recent testimonial should be the best memory for us all.

My condolences to Jackie and family

[dianablanton1984Member]

This came as a shock to me!

Rest in peace, Tom. You will be missed.

[LenGroat]

I saw this earlier today and felt extremely sad, so have returned to it now to add my thoughts.

Ironically I was a friend of both Tom and Jackie even though I was never a 'TM customer'. We used their studios for the vocals on our 2 GEM-AM packages using PAMS tracks in '88 and '89.

I had already got to know Jackie as a friend from when she flew into Manchester to sing lead for Trent FM at Alfasound. But I found myself bowled over when I went to Dallas as she and Tom insisted I stay at their weekday home and their weekend lake house between sessions at JAM !

Of course Tom's reputation preceded him, and I avoided 'being an anorak' and talking 'business', which meant as soon as the drinks flowed he voluntarily opened up. The stories Tom told were both entertaining and informative. Alan Fawkes of Alfasound was also there and was as entranced as I was by Tom's innate understanding and love of music production. Some of Tom's 'roots' were from the great Hollywood composers of the silverscreen, the Max Steiner's, and his arrangements for his 'production pieces' were simply stunning.

One trip Jackie said, 'you might like this' and gave me tape cassette with a dub of a 30 minute sequence of Christmas music Tom had custom arranged and written for huge automaton displays in malls around America. The big arrangments, full orchestra and superb Dallas 'block vocal' style, with Jackie in the group, just SOARED.

I've played it every year at Christmas since, except one year when I lost the cassette. It is now safely transferred to CD. I will play it as always this Christmas… but with some sadness.

I feel extremely privelidged to have known Tom, and my sincere condolences and love to Jackie.

Len.

[IainJohnstonMember]

Tributes from the industry also now appearing on places like the New York Radio Message Board…
http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard/messages/365956.html

And this, on JingleMad…

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1258058878_75_FT76595_tm-productions-thetmsong.mp3 filename:tm-productions-thetmsong.mp3

[topcat]

Simply put……

http://www.reelradio.com/mpf/tmtj08.html#tmtj08

[RobinBlamires]

One of my earliest radio memories was hearing the TM Capital Radio “Music Power” jingle package in the late 80s.

A fine example of the many gems that Tom provided and will live on for even longer.

You could always sense Tom's love for swing and big band in his early packages and it pretty much carried on throughout whilst adapting to other musical styles over the years.

One of the finest players who in this current time of radio, I doubt will be replicated.

Just amazing overall.

[JAM / PAMSMember]

The memorial service for Tom Merriman was held in Dallas yesterday (Nov 16). Not surprisingly, it was standing room only. A large number of singers, musicians, producers, salesmen, associates, friends and family were all in attendance.

Several people spoke, and some of the stories were amusing. The entire affair was an appropriate blend of humor, sorrow and music. It was followed by a reception which went on for several hours, because there aren't many occasions which bring together jingle veterans with those still in the biz. It was nice to see old friends (and even competitors) again, despite the sad circumstances.

Tom will be missed.

[GlennaMember]

Jon; alot of times
that's the only time some people {in any business} get together is at a memorial.

[TonyCurrie]

I've included a brief tribute to Tom in my weekly syndicated “Lively Lounge” radio show. It airs from today on a variety of stations (details at http://www.radiosix.com). Radio too often ignores its own and I felt compelled to do something on air to acknowledge Tom's outstanding contribution.

[tyty21]

with all due respect, this tribute montage i've made is to comimorate you and all you did. Great job, tom.

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1258667043_13633_FT76595_tribute_to_tom_merriman.mp3 filename:tribute_to_tom_merriman.mp3

[SeanMartin]

and finally . . .

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1258668808_6738_FT76595_thankyoutommerriman.mp3 filename:thankyoutommerriman.mp3

[Barras]

Slight correction Neal, you were in Longmeadow MA with me and Tracy Carman.

[Bigdave]

Dear TM…
We've listened to you ,our whole life through…
And thank you from all of us to you…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCX8m8CtwAU

Tom Merriman – a jingle legend.

[Author]

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