Diet Pepsi Launches Ray Charles "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" Retro T-shirt Collection

LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pepsi, a consistent frontrunner in creating instant commercial classics and iconic pop culture campaigns, brings back the memorable Diet Pepsi and Ray Charles' ads for "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" with a line of retro t-shirts.  The recent collaboration was brokered through The Joester Loria Group, Pepsi's exclusive licensing agency for North America and Act III Licensing in conjunction with the Ray Charles marketing group, the licensing agency for The Ray Charles Foundation.  The collection, designed by licensee Ripple Junction features imagery of the late music legend, Ray Charles and is representative of the award winning advertising campaign.  Launched in the early 1990's, the "You Got The Right One Baby" campaign, featuring 11 commercials over 3 years, put Pepsi on the leading edge of pop culture.

"Mr. Charles stated that the Diet Pepsi campaign was one of the highlights of his career and that "You've Got The Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" was one of his most popular songs," said Valerie Ervin, president of the Ray Charles Foundation.

Current designs are authentic to the merchandise that originally launched in conjunction with the campaign in the early '90s and incorporates the Diet Pepsi logo, Ray Charles images, the "Uh-huh" girls and the iconic tagline.  The nostalgic appeal also aligns with the current Pepsi Throwback beverage line, which offers vintage Pepsi packaging from the '70s and '80s and a real sugar blast from the past taste.

Select t-shirt styles are currently available at Urban Outfitters retail locations and online, Kitson retail locations and online, and on Pepsi's ecommerce shop (shop.pepsiusa.com) beginning in mid-July.  Retail prices range from $24.00-$38.00.  Kitson's Robertson and Melrose locations in Los Angeles will feature an exclusive Pepsi Throwback window promotion for two weeks starting July 16th and for an additional two weeks at the Santa Monica location starting August 1st.

Pepsi has been making history for over 100 years with trendsetting advertisements and campaigns with worldwide appeal and were recently named one of the world's most "Influential Brands" in Retail Merchandiser's 50th Anniversary Supplement.  Memorable Pepsi commercials have debuted during Super Bowls, Academy Awards and Grammy's telecasts for decades and have featured pop culture icons such as Michael Jackson, Cindy Crawford, Tina Turner, Lionel Ritchie, Britney Spears, and most recently, Sofia Vergara and David Beckham.

"Pepsi's ability to maintain youth appeal over the course of multiple generations has made it a true pop culture icon" said Joanne Loria, Executive Vice President of The Joester Loria Group, "Whether it's connecting with the latest trends in music, sports, fashion or culture, Pepsi is always reinventing itself – remaining relevant and youthful— while staying true to its heritage."

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kelly Kupper
American Rebel PR
323-656-5020
[email protected]

SOURCE Joester Loria Group