Jingle Power

On my trip to Red Deer with Calgary Karen this week, there were three things I wanted to find. First, the apartment building I lived in while I worked at CKGY. Yesterday I explained how freakishly easily that happened. Second, CKGY, which has moved at least once in the long time since I was a Red Deerean. We found the station quite by accident as well. The third was a business whose jingle I still cannot get out of my head.

I can’t remember the names of many of my fellow jocks at KG Country back in the day. I couldn’t tell you who the News Director was or how often I met with my PD for aircheck sessions. I don’t know the names of the restaurants we frequented or the cavern-like bar we met in most Saturday nights. But I can sing you the hook for Kipp Scott Pontiac.

“Kipp Scott Pontiac, Gaetz and Piper, top of the north hill, Red Deer!”

That was all Karen and I needed. We were on Gaetz, heading north. Once we found Piper – well, let’s face it, Kipp Scott is doing very well so we didn’t even need to find Piper! We just looked for the gigantic dealership and we knew we were there.

Silly? Maybe. But what a testimony to the power of radio. My brother had stayed with me for a week or so back then and when I forwarded the picture of Kipp Scott’s sign to him, he sent back the jingle lyrics. Even HE remembers! I didn’t ever buy a Pontiac from Kipp, but I would say that remembering the jingle after 24 years is evidence enough that it was a success.