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Posted in music on August 17, 2008
Jerry Wexler, RIP
During his time as an editor, reporter, and writer for Billboard Magazine, Wexler coined the term "rhythm and blues."He became a partner in Atlantic Records in 1953. There followed classic recordings with Ray Charles, the Drifters and Ruth Brown. With Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegün, he built up Atlantic Records into a major force. In 1967 he was named Record Executive of the Year for turning Aretha Franklin's career around.In the 1960s, he notably recorded Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin, and oversaw production of Dusty Springfield's highly acclaimed Dusty in Memphis album. He also cultivated a tight relationship with Stax Records, was an enormous proponent of the then-developing Muscle Shoals Sound and founded the fortunes of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. His work in this decade put Atlantic at the forefront of soul music.
In 1968, he and Ahmet Ertegun signed Led Zeppelin to Atlantic Records on the strength of a demo tape played by the band's manager Peter Grant and from what they knew of the band's guitarist, Jimmy Page from his performances with The Yardbirds.
In 1975 Wexler left Atlantic Records for Warner Bros. Records. In 1979, Wexler produced Bob Dylan's controversial first "born again" album, Slow Train Coming, at Muscle Shoals; a single from that album, "Gotta Serve Somebody", would win a Grammy in 1980. In the early 1980s, Wexler would record with UK popstar George Michael. The most famous outtake of these sessions would prove to be a rare early version of "Careless Whisper" (also recorded in Muscle Shoals). The version was originally released as "Special Mix" on an early pressing of the single's 12".
In 1987 Wexler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[6] Wexler retired from the music business in the late 1990s. [Wikipedia]
Posted on August 17, 2008 8:50 PM
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Comments (4)
R.I.P.
Posted by Anonymous | August 17, 2008 9:36 PM
Also.....
Internationally recognised trumpeter 'Dizzy' Johnny Moore, a founding member of the Skatalites and ska innovator died yesterday afternoon at his home in Kingston. For the past seven months the 70-year-old Moore had been bravely battling colon cancer, but finally gave up the fight.
http://www.blogowogo.com/blog_article.php?aid=1628393&t=8
bummer.
R.I.P.
Posted by Anonymous | August 17, 2008 10:21 PM
"He also cultivated a tight relationship with Stax Records"
Didn't Atlantic eventually oust the founders of Stax, though?
Don Helms, steel guitarist for Hank Williams, died recently, too:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/music/17helms.html
Posted by Anonymous | August 18, 2008 12:02 AM
RIP
... did you really use wikipedia?
Posted by matt | August 18, 2008 10:52 AM