• San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12 PM

Whether his client was an automobile manufacturer, a wine cooler or the committee to re-elect President Ronald Reagan, no one could put as graceful a spin on Americana as could Hal Riney, who died of cancer in his San Francisco home Monday at 75. He narrated many of the ads, and his gravelly voice is as memorable as the products he promoted.

Some would say Riney is best remembered for creating the brand and image of General Motors' Saturn automobile division, establishing a memorable alternative to Detroit car culture in the process. Others would argue that he is equally famous for the codgers Frank Bartles and Ed Jaymes, who sing the praises of the Gallo wine cooler that bore their names. Another case could be made that his best work came in 1984, when he wrote 60-second montages of Americana titled "It's Morning Again in America" that made people comfortable about re-electing Reagan.

The family will announce a date for a memorial service. Memorial gifts can be sent to Save the Children at www.savethechildren.org or to Earthjustice at www.earthjustice.org.

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