Shaefer (Beer) Talent Hunt -- 1968 thru to 1970's

[Roburt]

Brooklyn (Albany & Baltimore) based brewers Schaefer ran a  musical talent hunt from 1968 through into the 1970's. They ask thousands of singers / groups to submit tapes each January and from these a top ten acts would be selected. These ten would then cut two different versions of the (then) popular Schaefer's jingle and these would be used on US radio stations as ads for their beer.

Quite a few good soul acts entered; Ann Duquesnay, the Popular Five, Sharon Redd, Tommy Brown, the Three Degrees, Carl Hall, Main Ingredient, Bettye LaVette, etc.

The Top 10 acts each year got a decent amount of publicity out of the process (all those listed above were among those top tens). From late May, the jingles made by each of every year's top 10 acts would be used and were broadcast on radio stns over a 14 state area. Schaefer also sponsored a big music festival, staged in New York each summer and lots of the successful jingle acts would get to appear (as an unadvertised support act) on one of those shows. Similar shows were also put on in Boston. 

Kevin Kiley (& Bettye) have been searching for copies of the two different styled jingles she cut for a good few years (she cut  hers in soul and swing band styles). She used to have an acetate of her versions but that went missing. All the winning jingles would be pressed up on compilation LP discs but it seems the 12" that features Bettye's efforts has not (so far) been tracked down.   

Anyone here have any idea of who has a copy of the LP containing Bettye's two jingles ? 

Edited December 8, 2022 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Lots of the advertised acts at the 1970 Central Park (NY) Schaefer's Music Festival ... 

[imnokid]

Just spotted this album on YT after not looking for a few years. Bettye said that her acetate was just her 2 versions. So maybe for radio, they made TWO albums, as Bettye, Carl Hall, Koffee, Main Ingredient are not on this album either. This album popped up after looking for 20 years, so maybe Bettye's will turn up. I hope so!