[Dixielandjazz] Ahmet Ertegun - OBIT

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Ahmet and Neshui at the Beacon 
Theater in the early seventies with Jerry Wexler when I was just a 
young booking agent on my first trip to New York City and my first 
major concert production there at the Beacon.   The Dressing rooms were 
up stairs and quite steep as I recall.  That weekend was indeed magic 
and one I will never forget, as I had put together a show that brought 
out all the Heavy hitters in the Industry and I had no idea until much 
later how or why :))

I had found and convinced Dr. John to come out of self imposed early 
retirement, when he was living in Los Angeles, something that even his 
Manager had not been able to do wow was I surprised when I got there 
and was told that Albert Grossman wanted to meet ME.   He was just 
about God of the Management business at that time,  He managed, Bob 
Dylan, Peter Paul & Mary, and and several other big artists form the 
Wood Stock era.   Dr. John was still under contract to him , but had 
not played a date since Woodstock.   Albert thanked me for getting Dr. 
John to come out and go back to work.   Ahmet and Neshui, and Jerry 
Wexler and Bill Cosby were all backstage having a great celebration on 
my Dime :))

Ahmet was a wonderful gentleman and a great benefactor to many in this 
industry, and many artists and producers certainly owe him their 
careers, he will be missed along with Neshui  and Jerry Wexler, one of 
the best producers I have ever met.  These fine men gave me the 
inspiration and love of Black American Music.    Yes, R.I.P. Guys. and 
thanks for opening so many doors for us younger guys who came later and 
learned most of what we know from you guys.

Tom Wiggins




   R.I.P. Ahmet Ertegun

Steve, by one of those coincidences that happens in this life, I was 
reading
Clayton & Gammond's book "Fourteen Miles On A Clear Night" (because of 
a
previous posting) and happened to have page 126 open when your E-mail

arrived. There in line 3 is printed the name of Ahmet's elder brother
Nesuhi.

Bob Smith




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