A legendary record man, Jerry Wexler, died today at the age of 91. He earned the title -- a music business pioneer. Wexler was not only 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. His productions through the years produced numerous gold and platinum records. In fact, he won nearly every lifetime achievement award possible.
Born in 1917, in Manhattan New York, Wexler grew up to become a music producer and a prophet of roots and rhythm, and in fact, thanks to him, we use the term "rhythm and blues." In the '50s, Wexler's studio introduced us to Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, the Drifters, Chuck Willis, and LaVern Baker.Wexler recorded the music that became the foundation of rock — songs about parties and romance) and songs that in some cases were banned on the radio like Clyde McPhatter's "Honey Love" and the Clovers' "Down in the Alley."
For Wexler, it was on-the-job training: "No one really knew how to make a record when I started. You simply went into the studio, turned on the mike and said play."
In the '60s Wexler and his partner Ertegun brought Atlantic into the forefront among the label companies. The label was the first to mike the rhythm section separately for a clear heavy groove sound. This was the era of releasing music by Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, and Willie Nelson and Led Zeppelin.
During the '70s, Wexler left Atlantic to produce soundtracks for films by Louis Malle and Richard Pryor. he also recorded albums with Dire Straits, Etta James and Bob Dylan
By 1987, Wexler was one of the first non-performers to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
For anyone interested in learning to be a recording engineer, or a music producer, you may want to remember Wexler by reading his book Rhythm and the Blues about how American music.
