Philadelphia, PA—The Mr. Softee jingle has blared from ice cream trucks throughout the Philly/N.Y. metropolitan area and beyond for generations. It first sprang from the mind of Les Waas, a Philadelphia advertisement man who died on April 19, 2016, at 94.
The catchy jingle played by Mister Softee Trucks was based on "The Whistler and His Dog" (1960) by Lester Morton "Les" Waas. A copy of the sheet music and all the words can be found on the Mister Softee website. Waas, who created nearly 1,000 jingles in his lifetime, died in April 2016.
The Mr. Softee jingle is written in E-flat major with 6/8 time. However, many of the trucks play a version that sounds almost like it is transposed up a half step, in E major, though still with the 6/8 time. In New York City, trucks can play the jingle while moving to reduce noise.
Les had written and produced 973 jingles for such advertisers as "Mr. Softee," Holiday Inn, U.S. Coast Guard, Kiddie City, Acme Markets, Genuardi Super Markets, Breyer's, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Department of Virginia Tourism and the longest-continuously-running jingle in advertising, the Melrose Diner. He had also written 22 published/recorded songs, two of which became the official themes of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Less will be missed as a Philadelphia Icon.
