Ahmet Ertegun

Ahmet Ertegün was a Turkish-American businessman, songwriter, record executive and philanthropist. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 31, 1923, to a prominent diplomatic family. His father, Munir Ertegün, was the Turkish ambassador to several countries, and his mother, Hayrünnisa, was a musician who exposed him and his older brother, Nesuhi, to jazz and blues music. Ahmet and Nesuhi became avid collectors of records and attended concerts by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and other jazz legends. In 1935, the Ertegün family moved to Washington, D.C., where Ahmet attended Landon School and Georgetown University. He also frequented the Howard Theatre, where he witnessed the performances of many African-American artists. Ahmet developed a passion for black music and culture, and an empathy for the victims of racial discrimination. In 1947, Ahmet and his friend Herb Abramson founded Atlantic Records, a label dedicated to recording and promoting rhythm and blues music. They started with a $10,000 loan from a family dentist and a small office in New York City. Atlantic soon became one of the most influential and successful independent labels in the music industry, signing and producing many legendary artists, such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, the Drifters, the Coasters, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Solomon Burke. Ahmet also wrote songs for some of his artists, using the pseudonym A. Nugetre (Ertegün spelled backwards). He penned hits like "Mess Around" for Ray Charles, "Chains of Love" for Big Joe Turner, and "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" for Ben E. King. In the 1960s, Atlantic expanded its musical scope to include rock and roll, soul, jazz, and pop music. Ahmet was instrumental in bringing British rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Cream, and the Rolling Stones to America, and also supported the careers of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Genesis, and Foreigner. He also hired his brother Nesuhi to run the jazz division of Atlantic, which featured artists like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. Ahmet was known for his keen ear, his artistic vision, his personal charm, and his loyalty to his artists. He was respected and admired by musicians, colleagues, and competitors alike. Ahmet was not only a music mogul, but also a cultural icon and a philanthropist. He was a co-founder and chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1987. He also established the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame in New York, in honor of his brother Nesuhi, who died in 1989. He was a supporter of the American Turkish Society, the Turkish Cultural Foundation, and the New York Public Library. He was also a co-owner of the New York Cosmos soccer team, which featured the Brazilian star Pelé. He was friends with many celebrities, politicians, and royalty, and hosted lavish parties at his homes in New York, Southampton, and Bodrum. Ahmet died on December 14, 2006, at the age of 83, from a brain injury he suffered after falling backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in New York. He was buried in his native Istanbul, at the Özbekler Tekkesi, a Sufi lodge where his grandfather and father were also buried. He was survived by his wife, Mica, whom he married in 1961, and his nephews and nieces. He left behind a legacy of music that shaped the history and culture of the 20th century and beyond.