Ah damn, Ahmet Ertegun dies

[Equipoise]

Man, what a legend. He did more for music than just about anybody else, ever. It wasn't old age that got him, but a fall that caused a head injury.

Music pioneer Ahmet Ertegun dies at 83 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061214/ap_en_mu/obit_ahmet_ertegun)

NEW YORK - Ahmet Ertegun, who helped define American music as the founder of Atlantic Records, a label that popularized the gritty R&B of Ray Charles, the classic soul of Aretha Franklin and the British rock of the Rolling Stones, died Tuesday at 83, his spokesman said.

He was active to the end.

Although he was slowed by triple-bypass surgery in 2001, he still went into his office almost daily to listen for his next hit.

Finding those hits were among the most wonderful moments in his life, he said.

[Equipoise]

For god's sake, please, no one say "Who the fuck/hell was Ahmet Ertegun?"

[Quasimodem]

Ray Charles.

Thanks, Ahmet and RIP.

[WordMan]

He better be on the cover of Rolling Stone and other music magazines - along with John Hammond and a few others, he is a defining musical giant of the 20th Century.

I will repeat this as I have if a few other threads, if you have not seen Tom Dowd: The Language of Music - a documentary on the man who was the engineer / producer for most of Atlantic Records' hits, along with the Allman Bros, Cream, etc..., it is one of the best music movies I have ever seen. Ahmet is featured in a few bits.

[ShibbOleth]

Was he somehow involved (maybe ownership) with the New York Cosmos? I first saw about this on a Soccer related board and there was a Cosmos ref but nothing in the link I read. I had not heard of him before today, but of course was greatly affected by his life nonetheless.

[meow meow]

I met him a few years ago. He endows a program that I used to work in that had to do with Turkish studies.

[bordelond]

I met him a few years ago. He endows a program that I used to work in that had to do with Turkish studies.
Ertegun's early life and career are an interesting read (a synopsis is given in Fred Bronson's Hottest Hot 100 Hits (http://www.amazon.com/Billboards-Hottest-Hits-Updated-Expanded/dp/0823077381/sr=1-1/qid=1166195339/ref=sr_1_1/104-6922957-6516766?ie=UTF8&s=books)). Aside from running Atlantic records with his brother, Ahmet Ertegun was part of a small cadre of Turkish producers that hugely influenced American popular music in the 60s and 70s (Arif Maridin and Albhy Galuten were two others that come to mind). His Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmet_Ertegun) lays it all out.

Think about it -- Ertegun helped both Ray Charles and Led Zeppelin break. And he helped found the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[Kalhoun]

When I heard the list of artists this guy had a hand in, I was wondering if there was an end to it. This guy was da shit. Huge loss for music lovers everywhere.

[ralph124c]

Who is PIA Zadora with now/ And does she still have a great ass??

[gigi]

For god's sake, please, no one say "Who the fuck/hell was Ahmet Ertegun?"
For a moment I read it as Atom Egoyan and thought, whoa, and he was young.

[jsc1953]

83 years old, and died from injuries suffered at a rock concert.

You can't ask for a better way to go.

[Equipoise]

Who is PIA Zadora with now/ And does she still have a great ass??

She was married to Meshulam Riklis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meshulam_Riklis), another guy with a Middle Easternish-sounding name. There are a few of them.