Mac had the honor of creating Benton & Bowles’ commemorative advertisement for Roy Eaton in 2010’s Advertising Hall of Fame induction program.
Roy Eaton is a piano prodigy who grew up in Harlem, New York, in the 1930’s. He first played Carnegie Hall at the age of seven and studied abroad, performing at leading cultural venues around the world. After serving in the military, Roy returned to the United States and was hired by Young & Rubicam Advertising in 1955 as a copywriter and jingle composer. He became “the first black at Y&R, and probably the first at any major agency, with a creative function on general accounts.”
Roy Eaton moved to Benton & Bowles in 1959 and worked there for 20 years, rising to Vice President, Music Director. His work shaped the growth and public perception of brands like Cheer, General Electric, Piels Beer, Beech-Nut Chewing Gum, Gulf Oil, G.I. Joe, Mr. Potato Head, Prell, Chemical, Crest, Yuban Coffee, Hardees, Honeycomb Cereal, Texaco, Chef Boyardee, Cool Whip, Harvey’s Bristol Cream, and many more.
Roy Eaton pioneered the connection, which is so common today, between music, musicians, and branding strategies. He introduced jazz to advertising, worked with Ray Charles on “America” for Black & Decker, and was the first to sign Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 to an advertising contract.
Roy is famous for his ability to use music to elevate the image of brands. Furthermore, his work for the Ad Council helped make the campaign against drunk driving one of the most effective social marketing campaigns in history.
As a young creative, Mac was deeply humbled to create this ad for Roy, and had the pleasure of meeting him at his induction into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
