hall of famer ertegün dies

saturday night another turkish star of international fame passed away. Mr. Ahmet Ertegün (1923-2006) founder of atlantic records and maker of fame died in the united states where he lived since his graduation from university.
he and few friends founded atlantic records in 1947 to promote jazz and blues that he loved. it started as a hobby but soon became one of the giants of production business. he was also founder and ex-president of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

his death was due to a slip and hit of his head at a Rolling Stones gig in New York back in October. he never recovered. we wish his family and friends the best, may he rest in peace. he will be interred in istanbul today.

this unhappy event broght back memories. memories of new york in the 90's, where blue note and alike were filled with jazz enthusiast from every corner of the world. it was pre 9/11 and clinton era. I remember a particular night when an artist (his name escapes my memory) performed a set he called mozart blues, based on the andante movement of composer's piano concerto no:20. what a performance to remember. the music so unlike mozart (the movement itself is so unlike mozart), so dark, so full of the turns and turbulances wolfgang went through late 1780's, so sublime, so perfect. and the mozart blues payed due homage to this perfection. I later learned that the musician was produced by Mr. Ertegün, and later performed in Bodrum, Turkey, where also a very young Norah Jones (another find of Mr. Ertedgün) performed later on. At Bodrum he spent his summers. The little summer town near Aegean cost of Turkey is now reknown as a jazz spot because of his efforts.

little homage will be paid in his memory in this country. because he was very successful, because he promoted non mainstream art, because he was an outsider.but here at turkish diaries, he will be remembered as a great man of music.