Vale Street Remley, master of radio advertising
The Australian ad industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of the great Street Remley, the master of radio advertising, who has died aged 79 in Utah, where he was living with his daughter Erin and family.
Born in the US in 1937 Remley dropped out of medical school to go into the advertising business, strongly influenced by Stan Freberg. He worked at Young and Rubicam in the US for five years before transferring to Y&R Adelaide as the founding creative director.
In the early 70s Remley established Street Noise in Adelaide, which went on to receive international recognition for radio writing and production, winning more than 400 awards, including Clios, Hollywood Radio & TV, International Broadcasting, AWARD and Golden Stylus.
In 1980, Remley founded an annual radio writing workshop which has since become a template for radio courses in several countries. He sold Street Noise in 2001 to branch out into directing for TV and film.
Lionel Hunt, co-founder of The Campaign Palace, told CB tonight: ”He was my best man, a best mate and the best radio commercial writer and producer this country is ever likely to see. To use his favourite expression: goddammit!”
Adds creative legend Jack Vaughan, who started his career at Y&R Adelaide before joining The Campaign Palace: “There are many things I should be grateful to Street for ~ but the main one is that he hired me.”
Says another ad legend Scott Whybin: “Street Remley was the master of radio. He knew how people really spoke and got that audio syntax. Radio advertising was at its best when he was producing (and writing it). And God knows how many bad scripts he saved. At his best, he was the best in the world at what he did. God will laugh when he hears what Street does. Rest my friend.”
32 Comments
RIP Street. Count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with you upon arrival in Australia.
A legend of radio who never ceased to innovate, educate and inspire. Honored to have known such a generous creative.
This is the saddest of news.
I owe my career to Street Remley and his Radio Writers Workshop.
They were equally the most terrifying and rewarding days,
and nobody could inspire the power of imagery through words, and a love of radio
Like Street could. I’m sure every other writer, (and art director)
who did one of those workshops under Streets guidance would put the experience
down as unforgettable. He was a true craftsman, generous with his time, knowledge and patience whenever you asked for it, wherever you were.
For me it was Brisbane and I would often send Street a script in Adelaide to see what he thought of it. There was nothing in it for him a lot of the time but you’d still get a call with that deep drawl “Selllaaaars… Is this the best you can do?” followed by a heap of
constructive feedback that made it 1000 times better.
He was a true legend of the industry,
I wish there’d been more like him.
Rest in Peace Street and thank you.
Street Remley was the master of radio . He knew how people really spoke and got that audio syntax. Radio advertising was at its best when he was producing( and writing it). And God knows how many bad scripts he saved. At his best, he was the best in the world at what he did. God will laugh when he hears what Street does. Rest my friend. Scott Whybinx
A sad day. Like Jo and many others, Street Remley’s Radio Writers Workshop gave me the kickstart I needed to get a job as a junior writer. It was unforgettable and incredibly difficult, my first ‘all-nighter’ trying to get it right. I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from the very best. Thanks Street. A true gentleman and advertising legend.
A great inspiration and mate who always had time to chat and scribble all over your scripts…… always for the better.
RIP Streeter……
Street opened my eyes and ears to radio more powerful and funnier than I thought possible. It remains the hardest medium to write for, but because of him, I’ll always love it. Happy to have known someone so generous with his genius. Cheers Street.
Oh, this is sad news. I was at Macleay college when I learned about Street Remley. He made the unsexy radio brief seem like gold. Someone should cut a compilation of his ads, so absolute pearlers in there…
Hard to believe. He seemed unbreakable.
I was lucky enough to have learned from and worked with Street. A patient, gifted, insightful and above all gentle man who gave so much to so many. I doubt we will ever see his like again.
‘The good die young’ – yet another cliche Street couldn’t tolerate. Well rewritten sir, as always.
My art based ECD gave me an audio cassette of Street Remley’s best spots.
As a junior writer, that was the start and end of my education on how to write great radio.
It was a treat to actually work with him, albeit from an ISDN telephone line.
Rest well Street.
First David Mattingly and now Street. A very sad week. Thanks Street for teaching me how powerful great radio can be.
Worked with once. Remembered always.
Had the pleasure of hearing him talk at a Radio Writer’s Workshop in Marysville in the 90s, then managed to work with him on a project 2 years later. A real inspiration, and I soaked up his countless gems of advice like a deep sponge.
A creative. A larrikin. A craftsman. A wit. A perfectionist, and a gentleman.
I have fond memories of flying down to Adelaide to record radio with Street. We’d stay for a couple of days, have more than a couple of beers, and he’d never fail to deliver a better ad than the script deserved. It’s a sorely missed era, and Street will be sorely missed too.
A great inspiration and mate who always had time to chat and scribble all over your scripts…… always for the better.
RIP Streeter……
The first time I spoke to Street on the phone in Adelaide…I thought he’d been running his voice through some kind of studio trickery to give it gravitas and ‘punch’.
Nope, that was Street.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with a few (just a few) people who were so awesomely in control of their craft that they elevated it to art.
Street did that.
Do what you love, love what you do, and it’ll always be remembered.
Like the man will be.
A sad loss.
I spent 3 – 4 years in the mid 70’s – first at AAV then Pepper Studios -working almost exclusively with Streeter. Many late nights and early mornings spent trying to locate that half sentence or ‘ t ‘ or ‘but ‘ among the hundreds of pieces of 1/4 inch tape hanging up on walls with splicing tape…. but the end result was always impeccable. His genius was undeniable. V/O talent were often in fear because he demanded the best they had – and he got it or moved them on. He was the best in his craft for years and years and anyone who was fortunate enough to work with and learn from him was lucky indeed. Let’s have some Molasses chicken and a good red for him. RIP Street Remley – a true one off.
A true legend who continually raised the bar.
Long live the king!
I remember flying down to Adelaide several times so Street could produce my radio ads. He was a great teacher by just doing it. He used actor’s voices rather than generic announcers. Adelaide with its theatrical depth gave Street a wonderful canvas.
A wonderful man who has left behind beautiful memories.
Street was also an integral part of my radio heritage.
From hearing “A snail serenades Defender’ on the radio before I got into the business; to attending a radio Writer’s workshop in SA in 1987 which opened up my eyes on how to approach making good radio (and how many great people there were around Australia); to a LONG audio session via ISDN one night that felt like it may never end.
He was absolutely a talent and a mentor and had the passion of an 18 year old when many of his contemporaries had long since lost their edge.
He genuinely left his mark on the industry and changed it for the better
Street you were the best.An inspiration to everyone in the industry.You were a one off.
Thankyou.
Street once told me he could drop a ten ton cherry into a lake of cream the size of Perth Water much cheaper and more powerfully than any TV commercial.
As much as it was a privilege to know and work with Street, it was more to be his friend..
He was the Chairman of Judges at the inaugural PADC Awards. He was also the first live interstate presenter who the PADC flew into Perth (a function held at the long defunct Blue Note in West Perth).
No person taught me more about humility or humour in radio. Street was one of a several producers operating out of Adelaide – along with Max Pepper, Pete Best and Les Francis – who dominated the national radio production awards during the eighties and nineties.
He did more than most to launch voice actors, Roger Cardwell and Jim Berinson.
He could genuinely amplify the potency of any radio idea.
His legacy is immeasurable. God better have his own laugh track. Or Street will record it for him.
John Ilian
Ahh bugger. Such sad news. I met Street a number of times and always liked him. He was a huge inspiration to me and his radio ads were what made me love radio writing. The only award I have ever kept on display is the one with his name on it that started my career and meant I got to meet him. The 1994 QLD REMLEY Award. RIP Street 🙁
RIP YOU LEGEND AMONGST LEGENDS.
When you first meet Street Remley as a young writer, you feel like you’re meeting a cross between Robert Mitchum and John Wayne. And then you see that devilish sense of humour of Stan Freeberg. He was a living connection to the real Mad Men era and we were lucky enough to have him here in Australia. He taught, mentored and influenced so many creative people and client’s brands. A great man and a truly great friend.
Goddamit indeed.
Street was first a mentor and then a friend.
I think we ended up doing well over 100 spots together, and had even more laughs and arguments. He was gruff angel for creatives, and an occasional devil to suits.
I still fondly remember one threatening to sue him after one of Street’s milder dressing downs.
What made Street special is that he thought radio (and audio in general) had the same importance as TV, and required the same amount of care and attention.
We would spend two weeks recording six 60 second spots.
Try suggesting that before Street, or indeed after Street.
I’m in Ireland at the moment but will have a few pints in his memory.
If I can find a suit, I will tear him or her to shreds. Just for old times sake.
Yep, one of a kind.
I think I’ve kept a script or two with a “few” of Streeters edits.A great creative mind and a great teacher.
Just got this sad news. The crazy thing about Street was you never knew if he was going to shoot you or shoot you a beer. He was the embodiment of Hunter S Thompson with the genius of Joel and Ethan Cohen tossed in. Like everyone in these posts, I too had many scripts saved and improved by Street’s incredible ear for the ol’ wireless commercials. He made radio the coolest medium to work in and for that I thank you Street. Very sad news to hear that you’ve finally cut your last breath.
Such sad news. I have fond memories of my days with Y&R Adelaide and working on many projects with Street. As an American woman with the same name as Street’s daughter, I was often asked by industry folks about “my dad” which was quite confusing until I caught on!
There was also an extended Radio Workshop in the Blue Mountains that brings up so many memories. I had to laugh at the ten ton cherry story mentioned by John Ilian – I remember that one well!
God speed, Street. You are a legend. I’ll tip a glass of red in your honour.
For us in Adelaide Street will always be remembered as the Master of the creative advertising culture, the Professional to learn from, as the founder of creativity at Y&R Adelaide and then Australia and then the world, you have many creative sons and daughters here who you inspired and taught by doing that thing you do, so from the many children who looked up to you please look down on us and laugh at how bad our radio is these days without you, when you get a minute that is.