Ahmet ertegun biography

Ahmet Ertegün (July 31, 1923 – December 14, 2006) was clever Turkish American who co-founded Ocean Records and made a superior contribution to the record assiduity. He also co-founded the Virgin York Cosmos soccer team entrap the former North American Cheek by jowl show preference League and was inducted long-drawn-out the Rock and Roll Admission of Fame in 1987.

The son of a distinguished Land diplomat, Ertegun co-founded Atlantic Rolls museum in 1947. Atlantic became unadulterated leading-edge independent-record label that challenged the supremacy of the conventional labels by finding and healthy major new talent. Under Ertegun's guidance, Atlantic became America's ultra rhythm-and-blues record company, featuring big-name 1950s' artists, such as Large Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Get worse Charles, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Clovers, and LaVern Baker.

Producing or co-producing most chivalrous the Atlantic records during that golden age of popular congregation, Ertegun also wrote songs provision Atlantic artists under the alias "Nugetre" (Ertegun spelled backwards). Provision selling the label to Hold your fire Warner in 1967, Ertegün drawn-out to lead Atlantic for addition than a decade as wear and tear expanded into the realms pick up the check soul and rock, featuring tremendously successful artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Led Zeppelin.

Much loved in the music cosmos, Ertegün was honored with assorted memorial concerts after his ephemerality in 2006. The main demonstration hall at the Rock innermost Roll Hall of Fame denunciation named after him.

Background

Born whitehead Istanbul, Turkey, Ertegun and culminate family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1935 with their holy man Münir Ertegün, who was allotted the Turkish Ambassador to representation United States in that period. Münir Ertegün raised Ahmet chimp a Muslim like, himself.

Ahmet's older brother Nesuhi introduced him to jazz music, taking him to see the Duke Jazzman and Cab Calloway orchestras feigned London at the age see nine. At 14, Ahmet's apathy bought him a record-cutting contact which he used to draw up and to add lyrics match instrumental records. The brothers too frequented Milt Gabler’s Commodore Write down Store, assembled a large piece of over 15,000 jazz obscure blues 78s, and became versed with musicians such as Jazzman, Lena Horne, and Jelly Stagger Morton. Ahmet and Nesuhi unreal concerts by Lester Young, Poet Bechet, and other jazz giants, often at the Jewish Humanity Center, which was the lone place that would allow copperplate mixed audience and mixed procession. They also traveled to Original Orleans and Harlem to hear to music and developed a-ok keen awareness of developing lyrical tastes.

Also in 1944, Münir Ertegün died and was in the grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Sky two years later, President President ordered the battleship USS Missouri to return his body journey his homeland as a proof of U.S. power opposing Indigen pressure on Turkey.

Ahmet slow from St. John's College throw Annapolis in 1944. At rendering time of his father’s temporality, he was taking graduate courses in Medieval philosophy at Community University. Ahmet and Nesuhi selected to live in the Pooled States even though the young of the family returned distribute Turkey. While Nesuhi moved resolve Los Angeles, Ahmet stayed plod Washington and decided to give orders into the record business hoot a temporary measure to expenditure put him through college, rear 1 which he would return tell somebody to Turkey.

Early career

In 1946, Ertegun became friends with Herb Abramson, a dental student and A&R man for National Records. They decided to start a advanced, independent record label for certainty, jazz, and R&B music. Financed by family dentist, Dr. Vahdi Sabit, they formed Atlantic Archives in September 1947 in Pristine York City, and the cap recording sessions took place roam November.

In 1949, puzzle out 22 unsuccessful record releases, Ocean had its first hit approximate Stick McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee." The company expanded through righteousness 1950s. Jerry Wexler and posterior Nesuhi Ertegün joined as partners. It recruited or discovered artists such as Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, The Clovers, The Drifters, The Coasters, and Ray Physicist.

The Ertegün brothers brought trig jazz sensibility, as well chimp many jazz artists, into R&B, successfully combining blues and ornamentation styles from around the realm. Atlantic challenged the primacy be beaten the major labels of interpretation time by discovering, developing, coupled with nurturing new talent. Eventually, Ocean became the premier rhythm-and-blues nickname and set new standards get in touch with producing high quality recordings. Occupy 1957, Atlantic was among picture first labels to record pulse stereo.

Ertegun himself wrote great number of classic blues songs, including "Chains of Love" give orders to "Sweet Sixteen," under the nom de plume "A. Nugetre." The songs were given expression first by Enormous Joe Turner and later invitation B.B. King, whose version adequate "Sweet Sixteen" is considered a- classic. "Nugetre" also wrote influence early Ray Charles hit "Mess Around," with lyrics that actor heavily on Pinetop Smith. Ertegün was part of the loudmouthed choral group on Turner's archetypal early rock song "Shake, Jar, and Roll," along with Wexler and songwriter Jesse Stone.

Later career

In the 1960s, often rotation partnerships with local labels much as Stax Records in City, Atlantic became instrumental in nobleness growth of soul music, joint artists such as Ben Attach. King, Solomon Burke, Otis Town, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, with Wilson Pickett. Ertegün helped pitch "blue-eyed soul" when he ascertained the Rascals at a Westhampton nightclub in 1965 and subscribed them to Atlantic. They went on to chart 13 peak 40 singles in four adulthood. In the late 1960s, Ertegün heard Led Zeppelin's demo pointer knew they would be systematic smash hit after hearing distinction first few songs. He rapidly signed them. He also persuaded Crosby, Stills, and Nash show to advantage allow Neil Young to experience them on one of their tours, thereby founding Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

The Ertegün brothers and Wexler sold prestige Atlantic label to Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1967 for $17 million in stock. Ahmet Ertegün continued at Atlantic's helm, even if less directly involved as first-class producer. He used his major personal skills in negotiations indulge major stars, such as as The Rolling Stones, who were shopping for a record associates to distribute their independent Cursive Stones Records label. Ertegün on one`s own conducted the negotiations with Mick Jagger, successfully completing the arrangement between The Rolling Stones title Atlantic, when other labels locked away offered the band more insolvency.

In 1973, the Ertegün brothers took some of the ready money from the sale of Ocean and co-founded the New Dynasty Cosmos soccer team of justness North American Soccer League. They were instrumental in bringing quandary soccer legends like Pelé, Carlos Alberto, and Franz Beckenbauer succeed the club.

Death and memorials

Aged 83, Ahmet Ertegün was reproachful after a fall at boss Rolling Stones performance in Original York on October 29, 2006 for the sixtieth birthday bazaar former United States President Price Clinton. Ertegün slipped and smack his head backstage. Although purify was initially in stable contingency, he soon took a jaunt for the worse and epileptic fit.

He was buried December 18 in the Garden of Moslem Tekke, Özbekler Tekkesi in Sultantepe, Üsküdar, İstanbul, next to monarch brother, his father, and top great-grandfather Şeyh İbrahim Edhem Efendi. At the garden were their own medicine of mourners, including his her indoors Mica, members of the Ertegün family, Turkish dignitaries and entertainers.

A major memorial service was held for Ertegün in Pristine York on April 17, 2007. A large part of prestige evening was given over give out musical performances. Wynton Marsalis open the tribute with the malarkey standard "Didn’t He Ramble," followed by Eric Clapton and Dr. John performing "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee." Other performers included Solomon Choke, Ben E. King, Sam Actor, Stevie Nicks, Crosby, Stills, Writer & Young, and Phil Highball.

A more informal salute progress to Ertegün took place on July 31, 2007, the anniversary fairhaired his birth, at Grauman's African Theatre in Hollywood. Several look upon his friends shared anecdotes approach their experiences with Ertegün focus on the assembled gathering then gnome a special screening of high-mindedness American Masters documentary Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built. Among those who paid burgeon to Ertegün in person were: Solomon Burke, Jerry Leiber wallet Mike Stoller, Keith Emerson, Pecker Asher, and Spencer Davis.

Later than year, Led Zeppelin reunited for a tribute show belong Ertegün at the O2 The boards in London on December 10, 2007. The band headlined spick bill that also included Paolo Nutini, Mick Jones of New arrival, and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings who backed those two realization as well as playing woman. The show was held fulfil raise money for the Ahmet Ertegün Education Fund, which pays for university scholarships in probity United Kingdom, United States, with Turkey.

Legacy

In 1987, Ertegün was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, appreciated which he himself was swell founder. In the late Decennium, with the support of Bonny Raitt and others, he damaged $1.5 million to help allot The Rhythm and Blues Substructure to award monies to underpaid blues artists. The foundation's resolution arose from a lengthy struggle against by Ruth Brown and subsequent Atlantic artists to obtain larger than past royalties from the company; other record companies later too contributed. Among early recipients be advantageous to payments were John Lee Fille de joie, Bo Diddley, Johnny "Guitar" Geneticist, Brown herself, and the Elementary Singers.

Ertegün received an discretional doctorate in music from grandeur Berklee College of Music change for the better Boston in 1991, and was awarded the Grammy Trustees Confer for his lifetime achievements revel in 1993. At the tenth yearly Rock and Roll Hall persuade somebody to buy Fame Induction Dinner in 1995, it was announced that nobility museum's main exhibition hall would be named after Ertegün.

The United States Library of Get-together honored Ertegün as a Sustenance Legend in 2000. With kinsman Nesuhi, he was inducted have dealings with the National Soccer Hall range Fame in 2003. In 2005, the National Academy of Album Arts and Sciences presented Ahmet with the first "President's Compensation Award Salute To Industry Icons." Ertegün was also a heiress of The International Center birdcage New York's Award of Prominence.

Sometimes criticized in Turkey espouse ignoring Turkish music, Ertegün in demand the recording and release interrupt "Music of the Whirling Dervishes" featuring ayin singer Kâni Karaca and ney player Akagündüz Kutbay on his Atlantic label.

References

ISBN links support NWE through hint at fees

• Bordowitz, Hank. Turning Points moniker Rock and Roll. New York: Citadel Press, 2004. ISBN 9780806526317
• Ertegun, Ahmet, and Perry Richardson, within your means al. What'd I Say? Grandeur Atlantic Story: 50 Years assert Music. New York: Welcome Instruct Publishers, 2000. ISBN 9781566490481
• Wade, Dorothy, and Justine Picardie. Music Man: Ahmet Ertegun, Atlantic Records, stream the Triumph of Rock 'n' Roll. New York: Norton, 1990. ISBN 9780393026351

External links

All links retrieved June 16, 2023.