Topic: R.I.P Jerry Wexler
"Jerry Wexler, the legendary record man, music producer and ageless
hipster, died at 3:45 a.m. today at the age of 91. Wexler was one of
the great music business pioneers of the 20th century: as co-head of
Atlantic Records from 1953 to '75, he and his partner Ahmet Ertegun
grew the small independent R&B label into the major record company
that it is today.
Wexler was much more than a top executive — he was a national
tastemaker and a prophet of roots and rhythm. The impact of his deeds
matched his larger-than-life personality. Because of him, we use the
term "rhythm and blues" and we hail Ray Charles as "Genius" and Aretha
Franklin as "Queen." We came to know of a record label called Stax and
a small town called Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We witnessed the rise of
Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers, and we care about a thing called
soul."
Peace
Bluezman