Ahmet Ertegun was born on this date 101 years ago today. He, along with folks like Berry Gordy, Clive Davis, Jerry Wexler, David Geffen, and the Chess brothers, were instrumental in the release of mountains of music we know and love.
As co-founder and president of Atlantic Records, Ahmet personally helped launch the careers of musical giants like Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cream, Otis Redding, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Ben E. King, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, and Yes. He also served as the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What set Ahmet apart from other record influential record executives was his songwriting skills. He wrote a bunch of early rhythm and blues songs including the lyrics to Lovey Dovey in the 1950’s. See if these sound familiar. “I Said You’re The Cutest Thing That I’ve Ever Seen I Really Love Your Peaches, Wanna Shake Your Tree Lovey Dovey, Lovey Dovey All The Time Said Lovey Dovey, I Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind”
What a joker.
How many hundreds of songs that you love is Ahmet responsible for providing the funding and promotion?
