[topcat]

I am sorry to announce the passing of one of the elder statesmen of the jingle industry, Mr. Jim West, this morning.

I don't have any of the details, but I can only presume that it is a result of Parkinson's Disease, which he has been battling for many years.

Jim worked at PAMS and TM, and was also a principal in FairWest and KershawWest. He was unable to attend the Tom Merriman tribute last September, which was disappointing. He was always a gentleman to me and my cohorts and had all sorts of anecdotes about the golden days. I'm only sorry that I didn't get to spend more time chatting with him. He was there through it all…!

My heart felt condolences to his family.

-Tracy Carman

[ratnobMember]

Really sorry to hear this. I was a big fan also of KershawWest which brought together two of the most influential names in the industry.

[Barras]

TC and ratnob know I`m a big fan of the Kershaw-West & FairWest jingle partnerships – I`m sorry to hear about the passing of Jim West.

Allow me to give respect by posting a FairWest jingle that I love – it`s a cut for KVIL in Dallas…

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1238234238_3680_FT70257_fairwest_kvil_you_are_the_reason_1_cut.mp3 filename:fairwest_kvil_you_are_the_reason_1_cut.mp3

[ratnobMember]

Brilliant choice of tribute cut, David – absolutely stunning.

[topcat]

From Radio Daily News.

James Robert West, radio industry legend and Texas Radio Hall of Fame member, passed away in Dallas, Texas on March 27th from complications related to a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease and COPD.

Jim West, as he was known in the radio world, was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1924. Son of Sam West, prominent musician and band leader, Jim went with his parents to Los Angeles at 3 years old when his father became musical director of MGM Studios. After the passing of his mother from breast cancer, Jim and his siblings Lucille and Maxine were split up and separated from their father. Jim and older sister, Maxine, were sent back to Cleveland where they eventually wound up in the Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Home for 10 years. His sister, Lucille, remained in California with relatives.

After his release from the orphanage and a reunion with his father and sisters in San Francisco, Jim finished high school at Berkeley (CA.) High School and was drafted into the U.S. Army at the beginning of World War II

He originally was a member of the U.S. Infantry and he spent time as drill sergeant at Camp Swift in Texas – then became part of the Army’s USO musician program that included duty in Alaska as well as a stint on the Presidential Yacht in the South Pacific.

After his honorable discharge, he returned to University of California, Berkeley.

West became a musical fixture on the San Francisco jazz scene in the late 1940s, playing a coveted nightly gig at the Fairmont Hotel’s Cirque Room as well as frequent appearances with noted jazz music legends like Dave Brubeck.

His quartet, the Jack Ross/Dick Lane Quartet, eventually was signed to Argo and Roulette Records and put out several records – while touring nationally with Oscar Peterson and other jazz fixtures as well as making frequent feature appearances in Las Vegas famous hotels lounges like the Flamingo, Tropicana, Harrah’s and others.

Jim was a respected bass player and vocalist and counted famous musicians and singers like The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson, as well as comedian Don Rickles and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (amongst others) as friends.

In 1954, while living and playing music in San Francisco – Jim met and subsequently married Elizabeth Parker, daughter of the President of the Dr. Pepper Company, Wesby Parker. Jim and Liz set up house in Las Vegas and had their first son, Steve, in 1960.

After the birth of their son, West refused a lucrative recording deal with Capitol Records to bring his family to Dallas, Texas to be closer to his new family. He then went to work for the legendary music and jingle production company PAMS in the early 60’s. His role in helping to make PAMS one of the legendary jingle production companies in the world is well known in the broadcasting community.
The West’s welcomed their daughter, Claire, in 1964, and Jim continued to gain stature in the radio world as PAMS provided jingles for most of the major broadcasting entities around the world.

In the late 60’s, West left PAMS to team up with a young jingle and production company started by Tom Merriman and Jim Long called TM Productions. West’s work as General Sales Manager and later General Manager of TM Productions helped push him to the very forefront of jingle production for radio and television across the nation as TM garnered increasing acclaim and success.

He left TM in 1977 to start his own broadcasting company and then spearheaded the mass syndication success of the popular nostalgia-based Al Ham’s “Music of Your Life” syndicated radio format, as well as partnering with radio station owner Richard Fairbanks to create the syndication and production company, FairWest.

Jim’s work with radio jingles, production music, syndicated radio and his representation of prominent radio consultants helped to revolutionize the radio industry and he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.

Later in life, he put his voice to work in what started as a hobby and became yet another successful career. West became a highly sought after voice-over talent. His voice was the anchor of the TV campaigns for both of Ross Perot’s presidential campaigns, and he was heard on everything from commercials for Tony Roma’s and Dairy Queen Restaurants to ads for medical, retail and specialty stores. His distinctive vocal style and delivery garnered him an Emmy only a few short years ago as the voice of Disney’s internationally produced “Legends of the Ring of Fire” animated shorts.

West’s passion later in life was his desire to help others with Parkinson’s disease and he was instrumental in raising tremendous amounts of money for the Dallas Area Parkinson’s Society as well as the Texas Voice Project and the National Parkinson Foundation. He also had deep ties to Dallas’ Bucker Children’s Home and was a constant supporter of their efforts to help children worldwide.

Jim was married to his wife, Elizabeth for 49 years until she passed 3 years ago from complications related to muscular dystrophy and cancer. He is survived by his son, Steven West, daughter-in-law, Celia West, and grandsons Duncan and Gordon West as well as his daughter, Claire West Parr, son-in-law, Bob Parr, and his grandson Elijah Parr.

Burial will be private but a Memorial Service will be scheduled later this year to honor his life, friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please make a donation in Jim’s memory to the Buckner Children’s Home, National Parkinson Foundation or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

[topcat]

Through the courtesy of Jay Marks in Chicago, here are Jim West's Radio Imaging and Commercial demos.

Jim West – Commercial Demo

Jim West – Radio Imaging Demo

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