Atlantic Co-Founder Ahmet Eretgun Dies
Pioneer of record label dies in NYC at the age of 83.
Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun died in New York City on Thursday. He was 83.
Ertegun was in a coma following a head injury he suffered Oct. 29 while attending a Rolling Stones concert and 60th birthday party for former president Bill Clinton, according to USA Today.
Ertegun was born in Istanbul in 1923 and founded the record company in 1947. He signed popular R & B acts such as Ray Charles and Ruth Brown. By the 1960s, he was a force in music, bringing to life stars such as Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack.
He also helped the British invasion move along singing rockers the Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1985.