Jazz Musicians as Pitchmen

Once upon a time, ad-agency art directors dug jazz and the country viewed jazz musicians as exceptional artists. So, to make products seem exciting, Mad Men enlisted musicians to swing the merits of their clients' goods. Or in the case above from the '90s, a Louis look-alike to make its point.

Here are a hawker's dozen, uncovered on YouTube...

Sonny Rollins for Pioneer Home Stereo Electronics in 1977...



John Coltrane's Big Nick arrangement for Honda...



Ron Carter for Tully's Coffee in Japan...



The Modern Jazz Quartet for AT&T in the 1970s...



Apple's “Jazz Musician" ad for its PowerBook in the 1990s...



Saxophonist Howard Johnson (at 3:24) for Miller Lite...



Louis Armstrong for Schaefer Beer in the 1960s...



Trombonist Urbie Green and the boys for Schaefer...



Count Basie for Williams Music...



Tony Bennett for Tanaka eyeglass frames...



Edd Kalehoff on the Moog for Schaefer...