Righting A Wrong.

It was 1987/1988. I was working at DMB&B/Bloomfield Hills where we had just initiated a great new campaign for General Motors Parts called “Lonely Roads.” Then, someone within GM did a video interviewing a line worker in Flint – questioning whether advertising the need for service was undermining GM’s message of quality. Suddenly, the multi-million dollar Mr. Goodwrench advertising campaign was in jeopardy. The executive creative director at DMB&B pulled in every resource, with concepts from the entire creative staff. Several concepts were presented, and three were chosen to be developed for presentation. As the senior writer on the account, I took the concept/themeline “It’s not just a car, it’s your freedom” and created an upbeat, positive anthem. The “Freedom” campaign saved the account – and the lyrics were awarded an honorary CLIO. I never knew who came up with the themeline. But this past week, it came to my attention that Clifford Simmons Jr. – who was doing a summer internship with DMB&B – was the writer who originated the line and deserves proper credit, which he never received. I can’t change what happened some 38 years ago…but this I’m giving him credit now.