William Bruce Meeks, Jr. (aka William Bruce Meeks II; b. March 2, 1921 — September 8, 1999) was a producer, composer and arranger of radio jingles and founder of PAMS in Dallas, USA.
He was also a keen woodwind, flute, and saxophone player. In addition, he was also an expert in music physics.
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He was born on 2nd March 1921 in Terrell, Texas. He graduated from Sunset High School and the University of North Texas College of Music, and was an Army-Air Force World War 2 veteran.[1]
Bill worked in radio, both as a broadcaster and also selling advertising. He would often create jingles for some of the clients he sold time to. Eventually he decided to devote all his time to advertising, and in 1951 he started his own company called "PAMS Advertising Agency, Inc".[2][3]
For several years PAMS created commercials and sold air time for a variety of clients and very few station jingles were made. But in the mid-50s, the radio ID side off the business took off, and previosusly made individual cuts were assembled into packages that were then syndicated to stations all over America.[4]
After the success of the first few PAMS jingle series, the company's focus slowly shifted to providing ID's to the ever growing number of top-40 radio stations. By the end of 1964, PAMS' primary business had become station jingles, and the name of the company was shortened to PAMS, Inc.
Not all of Bills ideas worked and not all his ventures were financially successful, but many of them touched the lives of millions of radio listeners, even though most outside of the industry don't know his name. Bill ran PAMS for 27 years before suspending operations in 1978, PAMS jingles were later produced by Ken R. Deutsch and Ben Freedman under the CPMG/PAMS moniker. In 1990, following court hearings, the original PAMS corporation, including all its copyrights, was purchased by JAM Creative Productions in Dallas.
Parents William Bruce Meeks, Jr., was born to the marriage of William Bruce Meeks (1893–1981) and Ola Lema Nations (1892–1987). He had a brother – Charles Holten Meeks (b. Sep 7, 1922; d. Jul 27, 1976) – born to the same marriage.
William Bruce Meeks, Jr., married Marjorie Ann Skaggs (b. Dec 18, 1924 in Abbeville, Lousiana; d. June 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas) on August 11, 1943 and together, they had three children: Dennis Bruce Meeks (b. 1945), Anita Louise Meeks (married to Jimmie Dee Wheeler), and Jeanne Marie Meeks (b. Apr 9, 1958; d. Aug 7, 1994 in Dallas, Texas). Bill Meeks lost his battle against cancer on September 8, 1999. He is currently survived by grandchildren Brandon, Casey, Dennis, Devon, Megan, Todd; and, his great grandchildren Arabella, Christopher, Gage, Gavin, Kaylee and Lillie.[5][6][7]