But for some reason publication was delayed over two years. Atlantic records cofounder ahmet ertegun is exposed as an abusive, sexual harasser in a new book by his former secretary dorothy carvello. Nesuhi, one of the preeminent jazz producers of all time, and the legendary jerry wexler, who produced great soul artists like wilson pickett, solomon burke, and aretha franklin, ertegun. Fivecd boxed set honors atlantic records legend nesuhi. In many ways, this book is the bible of rock n roll.
Robert greenfield as the founder and head of atlantic records, ahmet ertegun signed and or recorded many of the greatest musical artists of all time, from ray charles to kid rock. Ahmet ertegun, turkishborn american music magnate born july 31, 1923, istanbul, turkeydied dec. A stirring moment in jazz history to echo in turkish embassy. At the timef of my letter, nesuhi bey was an executive who led wea international, a figure that seemed unreachable. Robert greenfield as the founder and head of atlantic records, ahmet ertegun signed andor recorded many of the greatest musical artists of all time, from ray charles to kid rock. Blessed with great taste and sharp business acumen, he founded atlantic records and brought rock n roll into the. He died on december 14, 2006 in new york city, new york, usa. Atlantic records originated in a cramped, ground floor office space in the worn down jefferson hotel on 56th street in new york city. She bought the popular records of the day, to which ahmet and his brother, nesuhi listened. They made a good place for turkey in the hearts and minds of the black community. The son of a turkish ambassador, ertegun 19232006 left his native country at age two, and lived for a decade in switzerland, france, and england, where he had a nanny. And ertegun, fabled for his handmade suits, his vodka consumption. Ahmet ertegun, who helped define american music as the founder of atlantic records, a label that nurtured ray charles, aretha franklin and the rolling stones, died thursday. He was married to ioana mica maria banu grecianu and jan holm.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. You may think the price is a tad high for a book about rock music but what you get is pretty much an overview of the music business since the mid40s. Ahmet ertegun was the first person to ask ella fitzgerald for her autograph, in 1935. Nov 27, 2011 ahmet ertegun was the first person to ask ella fitzgerald for her autograph, in 1935. Article courtesy of ahmet ertegun and the history of atlantic records, the online library of music journalism. Mica ertegun, the widow of music mogul ahmet, tells mick brown why she has given oxford university one of its biggest ever donation. Upon hearing the africanamerican music that kept nightclubs hopping in racially segregated washington d. Explore the life of the man who almost singlehandedly changed the face of american music as filmmakers profile atlantic records founding father ahmet ertegun.
Working alongside his older brother, nesuhi, one of the preeminent jazz producers. Ahmet ertegun portrayed as abusive sex fiend in new book. Ahmet ertegun and nesuhi ertegun, brothers and founders of atlantic records, pose together in new york c 1948. The life and times of ahmet ertegun by robert greenfield 431 pages. Ahmet and nesuhi ertegun brothers did not touch a leaf upturned, every genre included except maybe classical. Visionary atlantic records partner nesuhi ertegun, brother of atlantic records chairman and cofounder ahmet ertegun, helped establish the label as a haven for nowclassic jazz, pop, and rhythmandblues. Ertegun and hes been producing hits since before you were born.
The definitive biography of ahmet ertegunfounder of atlantic records, the man behind stars from ray charles to the rolling stonesmesmerizing, entertaining, informative. Nesuhi bey herr nesuhi as he was called, was the elder brother of another legend, ahmet ertegun, with whom they had built a music giant called atlantic records. After a memorial service in new york ertegun was interred in his native turkey. This is an excellent book about the life of ahmet ertegun. Recalling legend ahmet ertegun, at home with kissinger or zappa. Rhythm and the blues, in 1993, he dedicated the book to ahmet ertegun. Indeed frank zappa names his son after ahmet ertegun. The life and times of ahmet ertegun reprint by greenfield, robert isbn.
Nesuhi had perhaps the most welltraveled ears in the music business. Mica erteguns philanthropic vision for the creation of the ertegun scholarships aims to bring the world together by intellectually removing barriers. Brilliant, cultured, brash, and irreverent, ahmet ertegun was a legend in the music world. Until 1932, munir ertegun was an ambassador in several counties. When i first heard that ertegun had penned the story of atlantic records 2 to 3 years ago, i immediately searched it out. He died on july 15, 1989 in new york city, new york, usa. Soon after, the family returned to turkey, but ahmet and nesuhi stayed in the united states. Easy to notice shoes in a limousine, framed against. Ahmet ertegun and nesuhi ertegun, brothers and founders of. Easy to notice shoes in a limousine, framed against gray felt. Discover book depositorys huge selection of ahmet ertegun books online. Ertegun was the cofounder and president of atlantic records.
Who would have thought that an immigrant family from the middle east would revolutionize the american music and shape our listening habits for good and forever. It could be a coffee table book but there are plenty of intelligent contributions to make it much more than just a picture book. Ahmet ertegun backgroundborn in istanbul, turkey in 1923 to an aristocratic turkish family, ertegun and his family, including. After remaining in a positive and stable condition for some time, he slipped into a coma in early december at new york presbyterian hospital weill cornell medical center and died with his family by his side. Profile of ahmet ertegun, chairman of atlantic records and the most arresting figure in the american music business. Robert greenfield has done a masterful job of relating them. The life and times of ahmet ertegun robert greenfield on. The last sultan is the definitive biography of a man who changed po. His older brother nesuhi introduced him to jazz music, taking him at the age of nine to see the duke ellington and cab calloway orchestras in london.
Ahmet ertegun in his own words he found ray charles, introduced eric clapton to aretha franklin, fell asleep on mick. Robert greenfields engaging biography shows that ahmet ertegun was destined to dominate. Discover the rich history of atlantic records in this big, illustrated book written by the labels founder, ahmet ertegun. His mother, hayrunnisa, was an accomplished musician who played keyboard and stringed instruments. Ahmet ertegun in his own words he found ray charles, introduced eric clapton to aretha franklin, fell asleep on mick jagger.
Ahmet ertegun american record executive britannica. Jan 30, 2017 nesuhi bey herr nesuhi as he was called, was the elder brother of another legend, ahmet ertegun, with whom they had built a music giant called atlantic records. We started atlantic simply because we wanted to sign a few artists whose music we liked, and make the kind of records that we would want to buy. Ertegun zog 1955 nach new york, um eine stelle bei atlantic, dem label seines jungeren bruders ahmet, anzunehmen. For mica and ahmet ertegun one of the great joys of life was the study of history, music, languages, literature, art and archaeology. When i first started atlantic records, reflects the label founder, ahmet ertegun, i intended to make good blues and jazz music, as well as some pop music. Ahmet ertegun was the last of the great record men. Switzerland, paris, london, and eventually to washington, d. Ahmet and mica ertegun ertegun graduate scholarship. Ahmet ertegun was born on july 31, 1923 in istanbul, turkey as ahmet munir ertegun. More than 1200 color and blackandwhite photographs make this a fun book to leaf through. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images.
Mica ertegun s philanthropic vision for the creation of the ertegun scholarships aims to bring the world together by intellectually removing barriers. Ahmet ertegun atlantic records american masters pbs. The life of ahmet ertegun was truly an amazing one, and this alone makes this book worth reading. A biography of ahmet ertegun, who built atlantic records on black. Ahmet ertegun was a man who loved his music and wanted others to hear what may otherwise have gone unheard. The founder of atlantic records, the late ahmet ertegun was a monumental force in the music industry for decades. We first met when the stones signed up with atlantic. The books title comes from a comment made by one of erteguns countless lady friends, who was referring to his womanizing when she called him the last sultan of turkey. Jun 12, 2001 discover book depositorys huge selection of ahmet ertegun books online.
Big, glossy, and entertaining, whatd i say is a coffeetable tribute to a rare species. However, ahmet ertegun and jerry wexler persuaded him instead to join. Ahmet ertegun has to be one of the true legends of popular music in the 20th century. A sacred tale rooted in the incredible life journey of my friend ahmet ertegun who touched not only me but. In 1953 they brought in another partner, jerry wexler, who coined the term rhythm and blues. The life and times of ahmet ertegun, by robert greenfield as much as any man who ever lived, robert greenfield begins this mesmerizing, entertaining, informative biography.
Anyhow, ive written too much, but as someone who loves and teaches the history of this music for a living, all i can say is, this book rocks. The son of a turkish diplomat, nesuhi left his native country at an early age and began, as he put it, moving around the world to wherever his fathers assignments took him. I will never see the world again, ahmet altans fourth. Put in charge of the labels jazz division, nesuhi spent the next 12 years recording a number of landmark albums from significant artists such as charles mingus, the modern jazz quartet, milt jackson, john coltrane and ornette coleman. Ahmet ertegun was all you ever thought he was and so much more. A stirring moment in jazz history to echo in turkish. The last sultan the life and times of ahmet ertegun by. Dec 15, 2006 ahmet ertegun, who helped define american music as the founder of atlantic records, a label that nurtured ray charles, aretha franklin and the rolling stones, died thursday. The stories began to flow and a lot of them are in these pages. Working alongside his older brother, nesuhi, one of the preeminent jazz producers of all time, and the legendary jerry wexler, who produced great soul artists like wilson pickett, solomon burke, and aretha franklin, ertegun transformed atlantic records from a small independent record label into a hugely profitable multinational corporation. For a more comprehensive biography of ertegun, see dorothy wade and justine picardies music man. His father munir ertegun was a diplomat and he was a member of the lausanne delegation after the turkish independence war. He had fallen hard for jazz when he heard duke ellington at the london palladium, and while in washington, he and his older brother, nesuhi. Eclectic, reminiscent, amused, fickle, perverseii the.
Ahmet ertegun and the history of atlantic records teachrock. Led zeppelin to release alternative stairway to heaven. Ahmet and nesuhi were forced to sell their collection of more than 20,000. Along with ertegun s reminiscences, atlantics biggest stars including aretha franklin, ray charles, and eric clapton speak out about their music and their experiences with atlantic.
Ahmet ertegun was, after all, a record potentate whose wealth gushed from a well that now is running dry. Fivecd boxed set honors atlantic records legend nesuhi ertegun. Theres the one about a 10yearold ahmet being taken by his older brother nesuhi in 1933 to the london palladium. In 1955, nesuhi ertegun joined atlantic records, the label founded by his younger brother ahmet. How trump makes brothers nesuhi and ahmet ertegun turn in. The nesuhi ertegun jazz hall of fame now the ertegun hall of fame at jazz at lincoln center was dedicated to him in 2004. For schools interested in subscribing to rocks backpages, please click here. For his contributions to the sport of soccer, he and ahmet were inducted into the national soccer hall of fame in 2003. Ahmet ertegun supported every major musical project that took place in the 20th century.
Eclectic, reminiscent, amused, fickle, perverseii the new. If youre looking for a free download links of the last sultan. Went with nesuhi ertegun by limousine to jersey city. Nesuhi ertegun was a turkishamerican record producer and executive of atlantic records. Fifty years after ahmet ertegun founded atlantic records, it is the no.
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