Jingles and Sounds That Endures: Saluting Toby Arnold’s Lasting Impact on Radio

An Introduction: The Legacy of Toby Arnold & Associates

In the golden age of radio branding, when jingles were more than sonic decoration—they were identity—Dallas, Texas stood as the undisputed capital of the craft. From the soaring harmonies of PAMS to the sleek polish of JAM Creative Productions, Dallas gave voice to stations across America. But nestled between those two giants was a quieter force, one that didn’t chase fame but shaped it: Toby Arnold & Associates.

Founded in the early 1970s by Toby and Dolly Arnold, the studio emerged as a creative and strategic powerhouse during a time of seismic change in radio imaging. When PAMS shuttered in 1978, leaving a void in the industry, Toby Arnold stepped forward—not to replicate the past, but to preserve and evolve it. His studio became a bridge between eras, offering stations a new kind of branding toolkit: modular, scalable, and deeply musical.

This tribute honors the legacy of Toby Arnold & Associates—not just as a production house, but as a philosophy. A belief that great sound should be accessible, adaptable, and emotionally resonant. Through restored audio, archival storytelling, and heartfelt reflection, the USA Radio Museum invites you to rediscover the studio that helped stations sound extraordinary—even when budgets were modest and formats were shifting. — USA RADIO MUSEUM

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Dallas Roots, National Reach

In the wake of PAMS’s final fadeout and before JAM’s rise to dominance, a different kind of jingle artistry quietly took root in Dallas. Toby Arnold & Associates didn’t just fill a void—they reimagined it. With a producer’s precision and a marketer’s intuition, Toby Arnold carved out a space where modular music met mass syndication, and where the soul of radio branding found new expression in the form of “zippers,” “buttons,” and work parts.

Founded by Toby and Dolly Arnold, the studio became a haven for broadcasters seeking flexible, high-quality production elements during a time of seismic change in radio imaging. Their flagship creation, The Production Bank, wasn’t merely a jingle package—it was a toolkit for stations to build their own sonic identity, piece by piece. From generic commercials voiced by seasoned actors to remixable beds and effects, Arnold’s vision was both practical and poetic: empowering stations to sound big, even on small budgets.

But beneath the utility lay artistry. With collaborators like Marshall Such and Dick Starr, Toby Arnold & Associates preserved the DNA of Dallas’s jingle tradition while adapting it for a new era. They inherited the master tapes of PAMS, remixed its magic, and kept its spirit alive—not as nostalgia, but as evolution.

This exhibit invites you to rediscover the ingenuity of Toby Arnold & Associates: a studio that didn’t chase fame, but quietly shaped the sound of countless stations across America. It’s a story of transition, innovation, and the enduring power of audio to brand, connect, and captivate.

Toby Arnold & Associates | The Best of PAMS | DEMO

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

The PAMS Acquisition: A Legacy Re-Imagined

In 1979, Toby Arnold & Associates made headlines with a bold move that would ripple through the radio industry: the acquisition of the complete master tape library of PAMS, the legendary Dallas jingle house that had defined the sound of Top 40 radio for over two decades. The deal, two years in the making, transferred more than one million dollars’ worth of music, recordings, and production assets—including every jingle package, syndicated programming library, and even television and film scores.

Toby and Dolly Arnold circa 1981.

“It’s taken us over two years to reach an agreement to purchase and clear the PAMS tapes and productions,” Arnold said at the time. His words weren’t just transactional—they were reverent. This was not a simple archive buyout; it was a stewardship of sonic history.

With PAMS shuttered in 1977 due to financial difficulties, the fate of its iconic catalog hung in the balance. Arnold’s acquisition ensured that the jingles which once powered WABC, WLS, and countless other stations would not fade into silence. Instead, they would be remixed, sweetened, and repackaged for modern radio needs.

To lead this transformation, Arnold tapped Dick Starr, a visionary producer with deep roots in radio programming. Starr had served as PD for KYA-AM San Francisco and WFUN-AM Miami, and now, with a 16-track facility in Dallas under his direction, he became the architect of PAMS’s rebirth.

“Dick helped us create many new ideas for syndication,” Arnold noted. Starr’s role wasn’t just technical—it was creative. He understood the emotional pull of a great jingle, the branding power of a sonic logo, and the need to evolve without erasing the past.

• Toby Arnold, the founder, was a syndicator with a marketer’s mind and a producer’s ear. He saw jingles not just as musical flourishes, but as tools for identity. His approach was strategic, scalable, and deeply attuned to the evolving needs of broadcasters.
• Dolly Arnold, co-owner and creative partner, helped shape the studio’s tone and direction. Her influence ensured that the studio’s offerings were not only technically sound but emotionally resonant.
• Marshall Such, a gifted composer, producer, and engineer, played a pivotal role in crafting the studio’s sonic identity. His work on transitions, beds, and effects gave The Production Bank its signature shimmer.
• Dick Starr, executive producer and former program director at KYA-AM San Francisco and WFUN-AM Miami, brought a programmer’s sensibility to the studio. Under his leadership, the 16-track Starr Studios facility in Dallas became a hub for remixing, sweetening, and repackaging jingles for modern use.

Together, this team didn’t just produce audio—they engineered a new way for stations to brand themselves. Their work was modular, musical, and deeply rooted in the traditions of Dallas jingle artistry.

The Production Bank: A Toolkit for Sonic Identity

At the core of Toby Arnold & Associates’ legacy is The Production Bank, a syndicated music and effects library that redefined how stations approached imaging. It wasn’t a jingle package in the traditional sense—it was a toolkit. A modular, mix-and-match collection of:

• Zippers: Short musical transitions, perfect for segues and stingers.
• Buttons: Sonic punctuation for branding moments and call-to-action cues.
• Work Parts: Longer beds for promos, intros, and background music.
• Generic Commercials: Pre-voiced spots by professional actors, customizable for local use.

This approach was revolutionary. It democratized high-quality audio branding, giving even small-market stations access to polished, professional sound. And it did so without sacrificing musicality or emotional impact.

But The Production Bank was more than a product—it was a philosophy. It reflected Arnold’s belief that radio imaging should be accessible, adaptable, and rooted in musical integrity. It showcased Starr’s programming acumen, Such’s production finesse, and the Arnolds’ commitment to syndication as a creative force.

Toby Arnold & Associates | The WNIC ‘Rockin’ Easy’ Package | DEMO

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

From Archive to Airwaves

Today, the legacy of Toby Arnold & Associates lives on—not just in memory, but in sound. The USA Radio Museum proudly houses a curated collection of original jingle packages produced by the studio, including selections from The Production Bank and remixed PAMS classics. These recordings, lovingly preserved and restored, offer visitors a chance to experience the artistry firsthand.

Each jingle is more than a soundbite—it’s a time capsule. A sonic signature that once branded stations from coast to coast, now revived for new generations to discover. Whether it’s a shimmering transition, a punchy promo bed, or a remixed PAMS theme reimagined for modern radio, these pieces reflect the ingenuity and emotional resonance that defined Toby Arnold’s vision.

Through this exhibit, the museum invites you not just to learn about Toby Arnold—but to hear him. To feel the pulse of syndicated creativity, the warmth of analog tape, and the enduring magic of Dallas’s jingle tradition.

Toby Arnold: The Syndicator Who Preserved a Sonic Legacy

Born on April 23, 1930, Toby Arnold came of age during radio’s most transformative decades. His early career at PAMS gave him a front-row seat to the rise of jingle branding, and his founding of Toby Arnold & Associates in 1973 marked the beginning of a new chapter in syndicated production.

Arnold’s acquisition of the PAMS master library in 1979 was more than a business move—it was an act of preservation. With collaborators like Dick Starr and Marshall Such, Arnold ensured that the sounds of Top 40 radio would not fade into silence, but instead be remixed, repackaged, and reimagined for stations navigating a new era.

Toby Arnold was more than a producer—he was a steward of sound. Before founding Toby Arnold & Associates around 1973, he served as sales manager at PAMS, where he built strong relationships with clients and collaborators across the radio landscape. His transition from PAMS to his own studio wasn’t just a career move—it was a continuation of Dallas’s jingle tradition, carried forward with quiet determination and strategic brilliance.

Arnold’s background in sales and syndication gave him a unique edge. He understood the business of radio branding as deeply as he understood its emotional resonance. When PAMS folded in 1978, Arnold stepped in—not to replicate its legacy, but to preserve and evolve it. His acquisition of the PAMS master tape library in 1979 was a landmark moment, ensuring that decades of iconic jingles would not be lost to time.

Sadly, Toby Arnold passed away on May 8, 2006. While specific details about his early life and education remain elusive in public records, his professional legacy speaks volumes. He was known for his collaborative spirit, working closely with figures like Dick Starr, Marshall Such, and Euel Box, many of whom had deep ties to PAMS and the broader Dallas jingle scene.

As for the studio itself—Toby Arnold & Associates is no longer active as a production house, but its influence endures. Many of its jingle packages, including The Production Bank, continue to circulate among collectors and enthusiasts. The studio’s work is preserved through archives, samplers, and tribute features, as such, as we are featuring here at the USA Radio Museum, today.

Toby Arnold & Associates | The WNBC Package | DEMO

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

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Toby Arnold & Associates
4255 LBJ Freeway, Suite 156
Dallas, TX 75234

The address where syndicated sound was born, remixed, and preserved.

From this modest suite in Dallas, Toby Arnold & Associates quietly shaped the sonic identity of American radio. It was here that jingles shimmered into existence, PAMS tapes were lovingly remixed, and The Production Bank gave stations the tools to sound extraordinary. This address isn’t just a location—it’s a landmark in broadcast branding history.

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Echoes That Endure: A Tribute to Toby Arnold & Associates

In the symphony of radio history, Toby Arnold & Associates played a quiet but unforgettable refrain. They didn’t seek the spotlight—they built it for others. Their jingles didn’t shout; they shimmered. Their work didn’t just brand stations—it gave them soul.

From the modular brilliance of The Production Bank to the loving stewardship of the PAMS master library, Toby Arnold’s studio stood as a bridge between eras. It honored the past without being bound by it, and it gave stations the tools to sound bold, modern, and unmistakably themselves.

But behind every “zipper,” every “button,” every sweetened remix, was a man who believed in the power of sound to connect, to elevate, and to endure. Toby Arnold was a syndicator, yes—but he was also a preservationist, a collaborator, and a quiet visionary. His passing in 2006 marked the end of a chapter, but not the end of the story.

Today, the USA Radio Museum carries that story forward. Through restored audio, curated archives, and heartfelt storytelling, we honor the legacy of Toby Arnold & Associates—not as a footnote, but as a foundational voice in the art of radio branding.

And their echoes still dance across the airwaves, reminding us that great sound is never forgotten. They live on here at the USA Radio Museum, where Toby Arnold is remembered not just in name, but in every shimmering jingle—heard, felt, and celebrated time and time again.

Toby Arnold & Associates | WOMC ‘Just For You’ | DEMO

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

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