It's no exaggeration to say American R&B and rock 'n' roll would not be what it is today without the ear of the late Ahmet Ertegun.
As Ertegun once said, "All popular music stems from black music, be it jazz or rock 'n' roll or rap." A producer, composer, and an ace talent spotter, Ertegun's Atlantic had its own sound -- earthy, sax-y -- with an early lineup that included Aretha, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, and LaVern Baker. Eventually, rock 'n' roll greats joined their R&B brothers and sisters: the Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Cream among them.
On Wednesday, May 2, PBS will air "Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built" as part of their American Masters series. It makes clear the scope of Ertegun's contribution to American music.
Another way to get a sense is to listen to the 2-CD set Atlantic Records: 50 Years.
written on Monday Apr 30, 2007
producer,
legend,
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