Music Man: Ahmet Ertegun, Atlantic Records, and the Triumph of Rock'N'Roll [Hardcover]

Dorothy Wade (Author), Justine Picardie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1990

From Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin to Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, from the Drifters and Bobby Darin to Sonny and Cher, Steve Winwood, and Phil Collins, the book bristles with anecdotes about the performers that Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records, brought to greatness. Photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Picardie and Wade ( Heroin: Chasing the Dragon ) here recount the career of Ahmet Ertegun, rock 'n' roll mogul and co-founder of Atlantic Records. They show that in an industry not noted for gentility, heavily influenced by drugs and associated with organized crime, Ertegun is among a handful of people who have remained essentially decent. From an early age, he had a passion for rhythm and blues, frequenting Harlem nightclubs and poring through old recordings in Washington, D.C., record stores. This type of music formed the basis of Atlantic's early success through the songs of such artists as Ray Charles, Aretha Frankin and Ben E. King. Atlantic's direction changed in the mid-'60s with the signing of major white performers: Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and, eventually, the Rolling Stones. Ertegun's courtship of Mick Jagger not only makes for entertaining reading, but also demonstrates his persistence and shrewdness. The true entrepreneurial phase of Atlantic's history ended with the sale of the company to Warner/Seven Arts, according to the authors, who laud Ertegun, head of the Atlantic division of Warner, for his remarkable survival skills in a very tough business. The book will appeal primarily to insiders; those not familiar with the industry will find it of only passing interest. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This book offers the impressive 42-year history of Atlantic Records and its founder, Ahmet Ertegun, in innumerable anecdotes, interviews, and yarns entertainingly provided by past and present music industry executives and recording artists, as if they had all gathered for Sunday morning brunch at Broadway's Sunlight Restaurant to schmooz about old times and the nascent rock industry. Payola scandals, alleged Mafia infiltration, corporate machinations, the (mis)treatment of blacks, and pursuit of artists and groups are all grist for this mill. Throughout, the focal point is Ertegun, the preeminent statesman of rock, and his tenure at Atlantic. His business acumen, endurance, and passion for music, and the wide-ranging esteem in which he is held in a volatile industry, are well documented. The written story of rock is replete with many of the stories here, but not from this angle. Recommended.
- Barry Miller, Austin P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 303 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 1st edition (April 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393026353
• ISBN-13: 978-0393026351
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All That Jazz, February 18, 2007

By 

B. Eyyuboglu (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music Man: Ahmet Ertegun, Atlantic Records, and the Triumph of Rock'N'Roll (Hardcover)

The book itself is an amazing historical journey not only to Ahmet Ertegun's (R.I.P) achievements but also to the somewhat murky (and entertaining) dynamics of the music industry. I strongly recommend this book as an entree to those who are interested in the entertainment industry.