(Cross-posted from Arblogger and Michigan Liberal)
See, e.g., Freep, here,
"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 Thursday at 83.
Ertegun’s influence on popular music probably can’t be overstated, and his career touched many Detroit artists. Atlantic became the home not only to Franklin but also to Kid Rock, Anita Baker, Aaliyah and the MC5. Franklin’s career did not take off until she left Columbia Records for Atlantic in 1967.
When he visited Detroit in 2001 to oversee a recording by Detroit-born jazz saxophonist James Carter at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Ertegun seemed to distill one of the secrets to his success when he told the Free Press: "This is about art, not about commerce. But when it’s great art, then the payback over the years is manifold."
(more)
Ertegun remained connected to the music scene until his last days. It it was at an Oct. 29 concert by the Rolling Stones at the Beacon Theatre in New York where Ertegun fell, suffered a head injury and was hospitalized. He later slipped into a coma. ..."
Rockin' till the end. --RIP AE.