Music legend Ahmet Ertegun, the founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, made good on his promise to stay in music “as long as I can.”
Ertegun, 83, who died yesterday of a severe brain injury, was active at Atlantic up until six weeks ago when he fell and hit his head during the Rolling Stones’ Beacon Theater performance for Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday party.
He had been in a coma and on life support since the fall.
One of the most important figures in the history of popular music, Ertegun is best known as the man who revolutionized music in pre-civil rights America by marketing traditionally black rhythm-and-blues music to white audiences.
He signed and produced artists ranging from Ray Charles, Joe Turner and LaVern Baker to Aretha Franklin and Percy Sledge.
In the mid-’60s, Atlantic moved into the pop world, signing such acts as the charismatic Sonny & Cher, as well as rock groups including Buffalo Springfield, The Rascals, Cream (with Eric Clapton), Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees, Blind Faith and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Throughout his 59 years at Atlantic, Ertegun also served as a mentor and confidant to countless Atlantic artists and groups as diverse at Australia’s AC/ DC to Kid Rock.
Ertegun distilled the complex world of record making into a simple onetwopunch that’s held true into the digital age: make great records and get them played. He said, “If you could do that, you could figure out the rest.” In a statement, Atlantic Records said Ertegun will be buried in a private ceremony in his native Turkey.
A memorial service will be conducted in New York after New Year’s.