"Ahmet created some 'house' at Atlantic Records. You've got to wonder if rock and roll could have ever happened without him! "
Bill Gardner
Morning Radio Personality,
KOOL 94.5
Billboard Major Market Air Personality of the Year
Radio & Records finalist 2002 Air Personality of the Year
AMERICAN MASTERS
"Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built”
Music has had a huge impact on my life. As a kid, I assembled a fairly large record collection, starting with the very first 45 RPM single I ever purchased with my own money in the early summer of 1957, " Searchin '," by the Coasters, Atco Records #6087 (a subsidiary of Atlantic Records). I played it so many times, I not only nearly drove my parents crazy, but just about wore a hole through it!
As a radio personality since on many big city rock and roll radio stations from coast-to-coast beginning in 1965 and arriving at 94.5 KOOL-FM here in Phoenix in 1999, I've been on the product end of the entertainment business, rather than being there when songs are created. I'd heard the name Ahmet Ertegun often over the years, but wasn't sure of his exact role or the extent of his personal contribution. Matter of fact, when I first saw the American Masters title, " Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built ," I wasn't sure I'd find it too interesting. Instead, I found it absolutely riveting.
Ahmet Ertegun's passion and personal tastes in music enabled him to blend jazz, rhythm and blues, and pure blues at his fledgling record company into what would evolve, shape, and eventually become rock and roll right before our eyes. Ahmet and his small team eventually created " Shake, Rattle, and Roll " which became a number one rhythm & blues hit in 1954 for Joe Turner. Soon after, in the days of black America's "race records" followed by white artists "covering" or re-recording them, Bill Haley and the Comets were ready to record the version of " Shake, Rattle, and Roll " for mass appeal audiences that most young Americans would come to know.
This American Masters two hour special has plenty of interesting footage, some from well after the year 2000, some long before, most of it vintage and rare. The range of performers that worked with Ahmet Ertegun spans decades from Ben E. King and the Drifters, Ray Charles, and Bobby Darin, through Aretha Franklin, Crosby Stills and Nash, Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, Bette Midler, Eric Clapton, and even Kid Rock.
A personal highlight for me of American Masters is Atlantic's association with Stax-Volt Records of Memphis, including rare performances by Otis Redding, Booker T, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, and even glimpses of our very own home town Valley resident, and my good friend Sam Moore of "Sam & Dave" fame. (Sam's the one wearing sun glasses in most of those Memphis still photos!).
I recall playing Aretha Franklin's new releases on the radio from her former company, Columbia Records back in 1965 and 1966, and although we all knew they were good , never quite became commercial successes nor made her the star she is today. Then Ahmet signs Aretha to Atlantic Records, and her very first release is a million seller, and her immediate follow-up, what many still call "the greatest rock and roll song ever ," the Otis Redding-written " Respect," Atlantic Records #2403.
It's pure fun to view Ahmet Ertegun's wisdom to stay a step or two ahead of rock and roll's changing tastes and preferences through several decades, but it's even more fun to see fairly recent interviews with those famous faces like Ray Charles, Ben E. King, Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, and Phil Collins who obviously still held him in such pure reverence long after their association on some of the biggest commercial hit records. Ahmet Ertegun's passion for his musical stars is just as apparent when he stares back at them !
Then, the secret of his huge successes struck me. I've been lucky enough to be around a few bosses like that myself! Ahmet Ertegun was one of those rare leaders that hires what he believes are the best creative people, lets them know how much he personally appreciates their work, then creates and presides over a work atmosphere that allows the team to create equal amounts of fun as they do work! As you know, when you're fortunate enough to have leadership like that, you're not only 100% comfortable in their presence, and totally trust their judgement, but fortunately for you and the boss, you can't wait to start working. The reward for both of you? You're frequently able to do some of your very best work. You'll see and hear many famous faces say "we sure had a lot of fun while we worked." Ahmet created some "house" at Atlantic Records. You've got to wonder if rock and roll could have ever happened without him!
American Masters "Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built"airs
Wednesday, May 2 at 9 p.m.
on Eight.
