Famed Record Exec. Jerry Wexler Has Died

[Steve Nathan]

So sad to hear this news. Jerry was truly one of the greats. A larger than life spirit, a visionary in the studio and a man who loved music and musicians. I was lucky enough to have worked with him several times starting in my early "Shoals" days. I was "the new kid" back then, so you can imagine the thrill of working with the man who'd shaped the very music that made me want to play.

 

 

Famed Record Exec. Jerry Wexler Has Died

 

Sarah Skates 08/15/2008

 

Jerry Wexler

 

Record producer and executive Jerry Wexler died this morning of heart disease at his home in Sarasota, Fl. He was 91. His storied career included time as an executive and part owner of Atlantic Records, and producing classics by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and others. Wexler, a native New Yorker, was credited with bringing the term rhythm and blues'' to popularity. He also recorded many of the artists in the now legendary Stax Records studios in Memphis, and Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

 

[mate stubb]

NPR said today that his gravestone will say "He Changed the World."

[Joe Muscara]

We are lucky to have lived in the era so influenced by him. Thank you Mr. Wexler!

[Jode]

I did not know that the man invented the term, "rhythm and blues." It's one of those phrases that you just think has been around forever. Thanks, Jerry, and go with God.

[drawback]

Great article here:

 

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/16/america/16obit.php

 

Amen.

 

 

-

 

[Steve Nathan]

'What do you want written on your tombstone, Jerry?' He said, 'Two words: More bass."'

 

 

You gotta love that

[wmp]

'What do you want written on your tombstone, Jerry?' He said, 'Two words: More bass."'

You gotta love that

Very cool. But this is disturbing.

 

In his autobiography, "Rhythm and the Blues" (Knopf, 1993), written with David Ritz, Wexler wrote candidly and self-critically about a personal life that he acknowledged had been intemperate, replete with adulterous liaisons and profligate drug use.

He lived to 91! I've got to rethink my early retirement plan. Another 35 years of hard time would kill me.

 

We are lucky to have lived in the era so influenced by him. Thank you Mr. Wexler!

Absolutely. Thanks, Jerry, for doing what you did. Changed my world.

 

[B3bluesman59]

I had the great pleasure to have dinner with Jerry Wexler in 1981 while I was in Muscle Shoals, Alabama working with the MSS Sound Studios guys on an upcoming album project. For three hours at dinner Jerry politely answered all my questions about Atlantic Records, my all time fav record label. We talked about Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Ivory Joe Hunter, LaVerne Baker, The Drifters, Coasters, Aretha, Wilson Pickett,and probably another 100 acts that Atlantic had signed over the years that I had questions about. Ahmet Ertegun always got most of the credit when the press talked about Atlantic but Jerry was a major, major player there. He usually stayed out of the limelite. Jerry was always into the music, signing and producing many of their hit acts. Talking with him was like taking a trip into the Atlantic Records Time Machine...but instead of reading about history, Jerry was telling it to me face to face. I will never forget that night with Jerry. As his tombstone will say "He Changed The World". RIP Jerry Wexler

[percussion boy]

[negativity removed, it's not the time for it.]