Richard Trentlage, Oscar Mayer Jingle Composer, Dies at 87
Richard D. Trentlage, the composer behind such famous advertising jingles as “The Oscar Mayer Wiener Song,” died earlier this month at the age of 87.
Trentlage’s daughter Linda Bruun confirmed to the New York Times that her father passed away on Sept. 21 at a hospital in Libertyville, Illinois due to congestive heart failure.
Throughout his decades-long career in advertising, Trentlage worked for agencies McCann-Erickson and D’Arcy before going on to found his own Wisconsin-based company Adver/Sonic Productions. His jingles have been used in ad campaigns for companies including McDonald’s and V8.
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The iconic Oscar Mayer jingle was Trentlage’s submission to a contest held by the company in 1962, and was first recorded in his home by his children. It was rolled out the following year, and went on to be featured in the company’s advertisements until it was retired in 2010.
Trentlage is survived by his wife of 33 years Jacqueline, as well as daughters Linda and Becky, sons David and Tom, two stepdaughters, a stepson, 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Listen to Trentlage’s Oscar Mayer song in the commercial below:
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