The Impact of Ahmet Ertegun

You may not know it, but you do know Ahmet Ertegun. Born into a wealthy family in Turkey, Istanbul in 1923, Ahmet grew to be a brilliant and shrewd businessman in the late 40s started Atlantic records in New York. His early 50s acts were predominately doo-whop, i.e. The Drifters, Coasters, Clovers and superstar Ray Charles.

Ahmet partnered with Stax Records in the mid-60s and helped guide every soul superstar we’re familiar with from Sam and Dave, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Ben E. King. His guiding hand also brought Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to prominence in the late 60s, proving that his ear for talent and personal touch could groom any worthy musician.

Most people don’t know that Ahmet was the driving force behind the creation of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio. Sadly, Ahmet died unexpectedly due to head injuries sustained in a fall off the stage while at the Rolling Stones benefit concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York in 2006.

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