Old-timers will recall hearing this jingle from the radio in the 1960s. It’s a bouncy little rap. A Rap of The Hammer. After all these years, some may wonder “what is the name of the vocalist?” in this wonderful jingle.
Going back into the Seattle Times archives, we find an obit for Russell Reymore, a remodeling contractor…
Russell J Reymore, 83, passed away January 2, 2004 at his home in Edmonds. Russ was born in Seattle on September 7, 1920 and, except for some early years in Kennewick, has been a lifelong resident of the Emerald City. He was one of the key remodeling contractors, (“The Remodeling King”), in the Greater Seattle area for many years, 
and was honored as a Certified Remodeler by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. He founded Washington Builders in the early 50’s with his partner, Ski Lapinski. Their radio jingle, “Now With The Rap Of The Hammer…” recorded by Don McCune (a/k/a Captain Puget) is remembered by thousands of Seattleites to this day. In 1962 Russ opened Cascade Construction, which is now being run by his son and daughter-in-law.
Here is the popular WASHINGTON BUILDER jingle, sung by DON MCCUNE.
(audio from KOL aircheck: time check beep at the end of the Washington Builders jingle)
In 1937 he won a scholarship to the Chicago School of Art but could not afford living costs, so he hitchhiked to eastern Washington and worked on his step-grandfather’s farm. In 1939 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps as a surveyor in the eastern Cascades. During World War II, rejected twice for flat feet, he worked at Todd Shipyards in western Washington while taking a University of Washington radio class. After two weeks, professor Ted Bell—also manager of Seattle’s KRSC—hired him as the 6 a.m. disc jockey. He stayed about six years, working with Leo Lassen on Rainiers baseball broadcasts and hosting a morning interview show that included Ivar Haglund.
He then became station manager of KFAR radio in Fairbanks, hired by Midnight Sun’s August Hiebert. There he created syndicated series such as From Out of the North and Tundra Telegraph, served as NBC’s Alaska radio and television stringer, and recorded the official version of the Alaska state song, “The Alaska Flag Song.”
In 1954 he became general manager of the new KFAR-TV—his main qualification being that he had once seen a television set. Early broadcasts included pointing a camera at the Fairbanks News-Miner and memorable commercials, including a weather girl and an Eskimo woman holding ice cubes. He remained until 1957.
That year KOMO-TV in Seattle hired him as Captain Puget (1957–1966), host of a live children’s program on local ecology, fire safety, and Puget Sound life. Ivar Haglund was the first “1st Mate Salty”; Frederick Lloyd later took the role.
From 1960 to 1981 he wrote, hosted, and narrated more than 400 episodes of Exploration Northwest, a documentary series filmed across the Northwest and Alaska that won 26 Emmys and held the top ratings for 21 years. From 1960 to 1975 he also hosted Challenge, introducing clergy discussions on more than 700 broadcasts.
After Exploration Northwest ended in 1981, he wrote short historical segments for PM Northwest and, from 1981 until September 1992, promoted the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. He continued public appearances, including emceeing a Native and Eskimo celebration in Fairbanks shortly before his death in March 1993.
