FireOpal Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 He'd been ill for some time, and this morning it was announced that Jerry Wexler has died. Like Ahmet, Jerry Wexler was one of the execs who was instrumental in signing Zep to Atlantic. Gerald "Jerry" Wexler (born January 10, 1917 died August 15, 2008) was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950's through the 1980's. He coined the term "Rhythm & Blues", and was integral in signing and/or producing many of the biggest acts of the last 50 years, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, and Bob Dylan. 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 what they knew of the band's guitarist, Jimmy Page from his performances with The Yardbirds. Wexler was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Sad news FO, thanks for passing it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reezon Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I wonder how Zep's personal relationship was with him. I know the band were close with Ahmet, but what about Jerry? RIP Jerry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireOpal Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 I wonder how Zep's personal relationship was with him. I know the band were close with Ahmet, but what about Jerry? That's what I would like to know as well. Maybe Robert will make some kind of statement in the following days - he's such an articulate sort. The general idea I'm getting by reading various online articles/bios and reviews of Wexler's book (published in the early 90's IIRC) is that there were certain business & personal tensions between Ahmet and Jerry that caused them to not work closely from about the mid-60's on. Subsequently, Ahmet worked with the pop and rock acts in New York, while Jerry went to the Deep South - Muscle Shoals in Alabama - and worked with the r&b/soul geniuses such as Aretha Franklin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reezon Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 That's what I would like to know as well. Maybe Robert will make some kind of statement in the following days - he's such an articulate sort. The general idea I'm getting by reading various online articles/bios and reviews of Wexler's book (published in the early 90's IIRC) is that there were certain business & personal tensions between Ahmet and Jerry that caused them to not work closely from about the mid-60's on. Subsequently, Ahmet worked with the pop and rock acts in New York, while Jerry went to the Deep South - Muscle Shoals in Alabama - and worked with the r&b/soul geniuses such as Aretha Franklin. Yeah, I beleive they had different musical tastes and just decided to work that way. It seemed to work though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So sorry to hear this. A terrible loss. His influence on music was undeniable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 The son of Polish immigrants and a music buff since his teens, Wexler landed a job writing for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s after serving in World War II and studying journalism in college. There he coined the term "rhythm and blues" for the magazine's black music charts; previously, they were listed under "race records." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/P...p;date=20080815 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 This is sad news. Another gone but not forgoten...feels like the end of an era...RIP Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Along with Ahmet, a real legend in the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the queen without a king Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Along with Ahmet, a real legend in the business. Yes, very much so. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef free Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 That's what I would like to know as well. Maybe Robert will make some kind of statement in the following days - he's such an articulate sort. The general idea I'm getting by reading various online articles/bios and reviews of Wexler's book (published in the early 90's IIRC) is that there were certain business & personal tensions between Ahmet and Jerry that caused them to not work closely from about the mid-60's on. Subsequently, Ahmet worked with the pop and rock acts in New York, while Jerry went to the Deep South - Muscle Shoals in Alabama - and worked with the r&b/soul geniuses such as Aretha Franklin. Which is where he met Duane (Duane played as a Muscle Shoals session guitarist including some Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin recordings). Jerry and Tom Dowd were involved with the early Allman Brothers. Jerry helped them start Capricorn Records. Heaven must have one ass kicking band! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickumali Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 He coined the term "Rhythm & Blues", ... In 1949, Jerry Wexler was a cub reporter at the age of 32 for Billboard magazine. The editor there wanted to change the name of the African-American (then "black") music section from "Race Records" to something more palatable. After a few days, Jerry said "rhythm and blues." Somehow that's amazing to me. When asked what he would like on his tombstone, he said "More bass." RIP, Jerry Wexler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatbo Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 one of the greats in the business. responsible for more great music in a week during the sixties than most in their entire lifetime. a charming sketch of him was written by stanley booth (who was/is one hell of a writer) in his tome 'the true adventures of the rolling stones'. blues from the gutter, a champion jack dupree album produced by wexler, was brian jones introduction to the blues. everyone one here owes a genuine thanks for that fact alone..... God rest his soul.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widget Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Very sad to hear of his passing. Even more so is the fact he was the final link to the original contract negotiations by Led Zeppelin to the Atlantic label. The following list are people associated/linked with Led Zeppelin getting that contract: Peter Grant Steve Weiss Dusty Springfield Bert Burns Ahmet Ertegun and now Jerry Wexler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIBLY Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 So is there still a Mrs Wexler and do they have a favourite charity that needs a helping hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rover Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I have really enjoyed reading about Jerry Wexler and the formation of Atlantic Records in the 2002 book by Stan Cornyn "EXPLODING: The Highs, Hits, Hype, Heroes, and Huslters of the Warner Music Group". (For those who don't know.... the WMG was WEA -- Warner-Elektra-Atlantic in 1969). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiss of fire Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 A full obit. from Uncut and a nice tribute blog in The Guardian. http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/jerry_wexler/..._features/12016 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/08/...er_of_soul.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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