The man who helped define American music as we know it, as the
founder of Atlantic Records. The label was popularized in the
beginning by
Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones, died Thursday, spokespeople for the label said. He was 83.
Ertegun,
the son of a Turkish ambassador’, was connected to the music scene
closely until his final days, and at a October 20th Rolling Stones show
in New York, Ertegun fell,suffered a head injury and was hospitalized, he later slipped into a coma.
“He was in a coma and expired today
with his family at his bedside,” said Dr. Howard A. Riina, Ertegun’s
neurosurgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical
Center.
Ertegun will be buried in a private cemetery with his family in his native Turkey, said Bob Kraus, spokesperson for
Ertegun and Atlantic Records.A memorial service will be conducted in New York after New
Year’s.
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Ertegun started collecting records for fun, but would
later became one of the music industry’s most powerful figures with
Atlantic, which he founded in 1947.
The
label first made its name with rhythm and blues by Charles and Big Joe
Turner. It later diversified, making Franklin the Queen of Soul as
well as carrying the banner of British rock — with the Rolling Stones,
Cream, Led Zeppelin — and American pop — with Sonny and Cher
, Crosby,
Stills, Nash & Young, and others.
Today, the company, part of Warner Music Group, is the home to artists including
Kid Rock, James Blunt, T.I., and Missy Elliott.
