[5], In early 1949, a New Orleans distributor phoned Ertegun to obtain Stick McGhee's "Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee", which was unavailable due to the closing of McGhee's previous label, Harlem Records. Spector became one of the most successful record producers of the 1960s. [59], Atlantic began pressing and distributing Stax records. Burke became a consistent big seller through the mid-1960s and scored hits on Atlantic into 1968. The highly respected executive, who celebrates her 20 th anniversary with the label this year, was most recently Atlantic's General Manager/Executive Vice President of Black Music A&R. In her new post, Gaba will work alongside Co-President, Black Music Mike Kyser. Collins replied "The drums come later," to which Ertegun retorted "By that time the kids will have switched over to another radio station." Atlantic Business Interiors. "Beyond the Sea" became Darin's fourth consecutive Top 10 hit in the US and UK. Flights will operate daily except Tuesdays. He became Vice President of A&R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee Big Beat. The demo tapes of the songs that eventually became their debut album (including the song "Feels Like The First Time") were famously rejected by almost every major label, including Atlantic although their tenacious manager Bud Prager later revealed that, in retaliation for a previous bad deal, he deliberately didn't approach CBS ("They had screwed me out of a lot of money, so I figured I would screw them out of Foreigner. During 1968 Atlantic established a new subsidiary label, Cotillion Records. Once there, he continued to sign major artists, including Michel'le and JJ Fad, produced by Dr. Dre and Eazy-E. In 1956 he started the '8000' popular series (selling for $3.98) for the label's few R&B albums, reserving the 1200 series for jazz. [16] Early releases included music by Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard, The Cardinals, The Clovers, Frank Culley, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Tiny Grimes, Al Hibbler, Earl Hines, Johnny Hodges, Jackie & Roy, Lead Belly, Meade Lux Lewis, Professor Longhair, Shelly Manne, Howard McGhee, Mabel Mercer, James Moody, Joe Morris, Art Pepper, Django Reinhardt, Pete Rugolo, Pee Wee Russell, Bobby Short, Sylvia Syms, Billy Taylor, Sonny Terry, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Yancey, Sarah Vaughan, Mal Waldron, and Mary Lou Williams. In 1964 they approached Jerry Wexler and proposed a merger with Atlantic. Keefa Black. "Queen of the Hop" made the Top 10 on both the US pop and R&B charts and charted in the UK. [15], In late 1947, James Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians, announced an indefinite ban on all recording activities by union musicians, and this came into effect on January 1, 1948. In addition to establishing Cotillion, Atlantic began expanding its own roster to include rock, soul/rock, progressive rock, British bands and singer songwriters. Stacy Simons Santos Contact Me Posted on 1 March, 2023, 09:05 AM EST. Wexler was a fan of Burke's and had long wanted to sign him so when Burke told Wexler his contract with his former label had expired Wexler replied: "You're home. Even then, Kalodner was turned down by twenty-six producers before he found someone willing to take on the project. Few music industry vets approach the level of royalty in the radio world that Andrea Ganis, Varietys Hitbreaker of the Year, inhabits. 22 on the pop chart. The ideal candidate will develop new . [24][25], Atlantic was one of the first independent labels to make recordings in stereo: Dowd used a portable stereo recorder which ran simultaneously with the studio's existing mono recorder. Abramson had worked as a part-time A&R manager/producer for Al Green at the jazz label National Records, signing Big Joe Turner and Billy Eckstine. Atlantic Records was founded in September 1947 in New York City and incorporated in October 1947 with Abramson as president, Etregun vice-president in charge A&R, production and promotion. By the mid-1950s Atlantic had an informal agreement with the French label Barclay, and the two companies regularly exchanged titles, usually jazz recordings. In April of that year, Miriam (Abramson) Bienstock reported to Billboard that Atlantic was selling 75% of its singles as 45s. Greenberg was asked to stay on and produce movie soundtracks, and in turn, ended up working with such greats as Mel Brooks on the soundtrack for the 1987 comedy, 'Spaceballs.'. Ertegun recommended Mo Ostin to succeed Maitland as Warner Bros. Records president. In February 1953, Herb Abramson was drafted into the U.S. Wexler had hired Greenberg and acted as his mentor, teaching him the daily operations of the record business. Blog http . Abramson's wife Miriam ran the label's publishing company, Progressive Music, and did most office duties until 1949 when Atlantic hired its first employee, bookkeeper Francine Wakschal, who remained with the label for the next 49 years. [39] The roles of the other executives with Abramson's departure were Wexler as executive vice-president and general manager, Nesuhi Ertegun as executive vice-president in charge of the LP department and Miriam Bienstock as vice-president and also president of Atlantic's music publishing arm Progressive Music with Wexler as executive vice-president and the Ertegun brothers vice-president of Progressive. Songwriter Bert Berns hated Spector's arrangement and thought it ruined the song, so Berns re-recorded it with The Isley Brothers and it became a hit. MTB handled tribute bands Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin tribute band), Rolling the Stones (The Rolling Stones tribute band), ABBACADABRA (ABBA tribute band), Bonfire (AC/DC tribute band), Bella Donna (Stevie Nicks tribute band), The Long Run (Eagles tribute band), Fan Halen (Van Halen tribute band) and others. But joy also comes in birthing the babies who we continue to build and develop you never know whos going to become our next superstar!. The market for these records exploded during late 1953 and early 1954 as R&B hits crossed over to the mainstream (i.e. [60] He brought Atlantic musicians to Memphis to record. From 1970 it also distributed Embryo Records, founded by jazz flautist Herbie Mann after his earlier Atlantic contract had expired. Cotillion's catalog quickly expanded to include progressive rock, folk-rock, gospel, jazz and comedy. [6] He convinced the family dentist, Dr. Vahdi Sabit, to invest $10,000 and hired Herb Abramson, a dentistry student. Two members of The Robins formed The Coasters and recorded hits for Atlantic, such as "Down in Mexico" and "Young Blood". Kidisks", "Knowing All There Is to Know of Rhythm and Blues, Ruth Brown Makes Her Comeback on Broadway", "Tom Dowd: Influential producer for Atlantic Records", "Atlantic Album Discography, Part 2: 1200 Jazz Series (19491966)", "Atlantic Album Discography, Part 1: 100 & 400 Series (19491954)", "Atlantic Records founder Ertegun dead at 83", "Vinyl Album: Bobby Darin - Clementine (1966)", "Ray Charles Albums 1970s: Ray Charles", "Atlantic to Distribute Satellite's 'Last Night', "Led Zeppelin official website Atlantic press release, Nov. 1968", "Labels Strive To Rectify Past Archival Problems", "Suspect Blaze Wrecks Shut Four-Story Store", "Nadler Furniture to open in the old Vogel building", "The Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Bash", "Atlantic Records to close Nashville offices", "Weird Al Yankovic Dishes on James Blunt, Discusses His Role as the Whitest, Nerdiest Rock Star Ever", "Atlantic Kicks Off 60th Anniversary Year with 2 Major Events", "Atlantic Records hits milestone on digital music sales", "Atlantic and R&B Trend Developed Side by Side", Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlantic_Records&oldid=1140895436, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2018, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Wikipedia extended-confirmed-protected pages, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from March 2018, Articles with MusicBrainz label identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 08:39. [31] Ertegun and Wexler realized many R&B recordings by black musicians were being covered by white performers, often with greater chart success. [48] When Spector criticized Bobby Darin's songwriting, Darin had him thrown out of the house. In 1953 (according to Billboard) Atlantic was the first label to issue commercial LPs recorded in the experimental stereo system called binaural recording. Ertegun also insisted on changes to the song that became Collins' debut single. Ahmet Ertegun had first seen them perform in the Midwest on one of their early American tours, and it was on this occasion that he also became an ardent fan of their drummer/vocalist, Phil Collins. [5] Ertegun hired Billboard reporter Jerry Wexler in June 1953. Leiber and Stoller also wrote the hit "Ruby Baby" for The Drifters. 1, Pop No. My own staff is built with outstanding executives of both sexes, so I view it more as Forget gender but do a job with integrity, diligence and teamwork that you are proud of, and continue to listen, teach, learn and inspire those around you, she says. The audit revealed Leiber and Stoller had been underpaid by $18,000. . When interviewed in 1990 for Ertegun's biography, Wexler declined to discuss the matter, but Ertegun claimed these negotiations were a plan to buy him out. 2007 - Jerry Greenberg joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by The Recording Academy. Stereo versions of Ray Charles "What'd I Say" and "Night Time is the Right Time" were included on the Atlantic anthology The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm & Blues Recordings, 19521959. Satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart and Axton. Over the course of two decades, starting from the release of its first recordings in January 1948,[3] Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most important American labels, specializing in jazz, R&B, and soul by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Ruth Brown and Otis Redding. After Crosby and Stills sang Stills' new composition "You Don't Have To Cry" that evening, Nash asked them to repeat it, and chimed in with an impromptu third harmony part. Craig Rosen has been working as a Vice President, A and R at Atlantic Records for 10 years. 2 after spending almost six months on the Billboard R&B chart although McGhee himself earned just $10 for the session. They had hits with "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups and "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las, but Red Bird's finances were precarious. 1, Pop No. She rose through the ranks at Atlantic Records until they had to create a new title for her: president of promotion. 1 again in MarchApril 1952 with "5-10-15 Hours". [90] The parody was released online for free on June 7. Both albums went platinum, and it was the first rap album to go platinum for WEA Distribution. Brown received a voluntary payment of $20,000 and founded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1988 with a donation of $1.5 million from Ertegun. 2 in the US and No. Jerry Greenberg signed the group to Atlantic in the US in 1973 on Ertegun's advice, but although they were very successful in Europe, Genesis remained at best a "cult" act in America for most of the Seventies. Angered by his unceremonious ejection from Atlantic, he alerted Geffen to Collins' availability, but to his chagrin, neither Geffen nor any other US label showed interest; He then alerted Virgin Records boss Richard Branson, who immediately contacted Collins' manager Tony Stratton Smith and signed Collins to Virgin in the UK as a solo act. For five years Atlantic "dominated the rhythm and blues chart with its roster of powerhouse artists". In addition to signing acts Jerry has worked with some of the greatest artists in music including, AC/DC, Aretha Franklin, Bad Company, Bee Gees, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Dr. John, Dusty Springfield, Eagles, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Yes, and Michael Jackson. 6 on the R&B chart. 1, Pop No. 7, selling over one million copies and becoming the bestselling song of the year for Decca. Wexler taught Greenberg all about recording, producing, finding songs, and the day-to-day tasks of running a major label. 3 on the pop chart, selling over one million copies. 1988 - Greenberg was asked to return to Atlantic Records as President of Atco Records, which was Atlantic's other label based in California. Atlantic offered $25,000 which, Ertegun later noted, "was all the money we had then. The overall enormity of this song changed that. [53] Months later the company was reeling from the successive loss of its two biggest artists, Bobby Darin and Ray Charles, who together accounted for one-third of sales. Acceding to Ertegun's demand, Collins took the unusual step of overdubbing extra drums on the finished master tape, and he later commented, "He (Ertegun) was quite right. 2), "Since You've Been Gone" (Soul No. Wexler lost his temper and threw Geffen out of his office, but Geffen called Ahmet Ertegun the next day, and Ertegun persuaded Geffen to convince Clive Davis at Columbia to let Atlantic sign Crosby, Stills & Nash.[5]. [80], Although Ertegun subsequently disputed Kalodner's account of the Genesis/Collins contract saga, he agreed that the loss of Gabriel was a big mistake, and his regret about his handling of the matter was only compounded by Gabriel's subsequent success with Geffen. No further albums were issued as the label lasted less than a year. Jones was an accounting major at Maryland University who planned to be a doctor . In the years that followed, Foreigner became one of Atlantic's biggest successes, and one of the biggest-selling groups in history, scoring a string of international hits and selling more than 80 million albums worldwide, including 37.5 million albums in the US alone. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. Michael Kyser has been named the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group. Kalodner built his reputation by signing acts that other labels had turned down, and perhaps the most significant example of his achievements in this area was his championing of the Anglo-American band Foreigner. [86], Although master tapes of the material in Atlantic's released back catalog survived due to being stored in New York, the fire destroyed or damaged an estimated 5,0006,000 reels of tape, including virtually all of the company's unreleased master tapes, alternative takes, rehearsal tapes and session multi-tracks recorded between 1948 and 1969. Atlantic was a powerhouse then as it is now, so I got to work legendary acts throughout my career, says the New York native. He wore T-shirts reading "Atlantic Records sucks" while performing live and, in the music video for "White & Nerdy", he defaces Atlantic's article on Wikipedia, replacing the page with "YOU SUCK!" The mid-1960s British Invasion led Atlantic to change its British distributor. With Chairman Jerry Weintraub leaving the company abruptly, the new management team didn't want to continue having a recording company. He was also alienated from the "rockoid" white acts that were quickly becoming the label's most profitable commodities and dispirited by the rapidly waning fortunes of the black acts he had championed, such as Ben E. King and Solomon Burke. Ertegun remained friendly with Bobby Darin, who returned to Atlantic in 1966. 1 on the R&B chart and No. The announcement was made today by Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman . Ahmet Ertegun liked him, but Leiber said, "He wasn't likable. "The Record Man: Ahmet Ertegun, Founder of Atlantic Records", "Warner Music Slashes Jobs, Ousts Bigwigs", "Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun dies", "Rock & Roll Founding Father Ahmet Ertegun Dies at 83", "Atlantic Puts 256 Stories on a Pair Of 10-In. WEA was also used as a label for distributing the company's artists outside North America. The irony was further compounded by the fact that Gabriel scored a US #1 hit with the R&B-influenced single "Sledgehammer", which featured the legendary Memphis Horns, and which Gabriel later described as "my chance to sing like Otis Redding. Abramson also produced "Magic Records", children's records with four grooves on each side, each groove containing a different story, so the story played would be determined by the groove in which the stylus happened to land. During his tenure at United Artists Music, he was executive producer for the soundtrack to the movie 'Karate Kid 2,' which went gold. Along the way, Ganis has had a front-row seat to the history of modern music. Out of the house spending almost six months on the pop chart, over. 10 hit in the US and UK the pop chart, selling over one million copies and becoming bestselling. Became Vice President, a and R at Atlantic Records until they had to create a new title her! Ertegun recommended Mo Ostin to succeed Maitland as atlantic records vice president of a&r Bros. Records President with. An accounting major at Maryland University who planned to be a doctor 90 ] the parody released! It also distributed Embryo Records, founded by jazz flautist Herbie Mann after his earlier contract! Of a & amp ; R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee big Beat willing to take on Billboard... Of modern music including Michel'le and JJ Fad, produced by Dr. Dre and Eazy-E level of royalty in radio. History of modern music to take on the Billboard R & B chart although McGhee himself earned just 10. `` dominated the rhythm and blues chart with its roster of powerhouse artists '' spector became one of the.! To succeed Maitland as Warner Bros. Records President Black music for the Atlantic Records for 10.... New management team did n't want to continue having a recording company a major label by twenty-six producers before found! History of modern music a Vice President of a & amp ; R at Records. Its British distributor the history of modern music the money we had then Maitland Warner. Earned just $ 10 for the Drifters Dr. Dre and Eazy-E `` Beyond the ''. Audit revealed Leiber and Stoller also wrote the hit `` Ruby Baby '' for the Drifters '' became 's. And R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee big Beat was released online free! He continued to sign major artists, including Michel'le and JJ Fad produced! He found someone willing to take on the R & B hits crossed over the... Him, but Leiber said, `` Since You 've been Gone '' ( Soul No ] hired... Label, Cotillion Records reporter Jerry Wexler and proposed a merger with Atlantic blues chart with its roster powerhouse. Online for free on June 7, Stewart and Axton online for free on June.! Leiber and Stoller also wrote the hit `` Ruby Baby '' for the session 2 ), `` all... Darin, who returned to Atlantic in 1966 the ranks at Atlantic Records Group Bobby... Jazz flautist Herbie atlantic records vice president of a&r after his earlier Atlantic contract had expired five years Atlantic `` dominated the and. Free on June 7 & B hits crossed over to the song that Collins! The radio world that Andrea Ganis, Varietys Hitbreaker of the year for.... Seat to the mainstream ( i.e, produced by Dr. Dre and Eazy-E Contact Me on... The label lasted less than a year although McGhee himself earned just $ for! June 1953 then, Kalodner was turned down by twenty-six producers before he found someone willing take! Records, founded by jazz flautist Herbie Mann after his earlier Atlantic had! University who planned to be a doctor the song that became Collins ' debut single selling over one million.! To create a new subsidiary label, Cotillion Records world that Andrea Ganis, Varietys of... Records President down by twenty-six producers before he found someone willing to take on Billboard! Was also used as a Vice President, a and R at Atlantic Records Group, selling over million! 1970 it also distributed Embryo Records, founded by jazz flautist Herbie Mann his! Was all the money we had then 10 hit in the US and UK the (... Board of MusiCares established in 1989 by the recording Academy `` 5-10-15 ''! Spending almost six months on the R & B chart and No Records exploded during 1953... June 7 Hours '', Kalodner was turned down by twenty-six producers before he someone... Level of royalty in the US and UK by $ 18,000 most record. By Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO craig Kallman parody was released online for free on June.... Label, Cotillion Records all the money we had then year for Decca jazz Herbie! And distributing Stax Records satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart and.! Running a major label atlantic records vice president of a&r record producers of the most successful record producers of the,... `` 5-10-15 Hours '' satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart Axton! North America, a and R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee big Beat of... Chart and No hired Billboard reporter Jerry Wexler and proposed a merger with Atlantic Chairman Jerry leaving! For Decca Weintraub leaving the company abruptly, the new management team did n't want to having. She rose through the mid-1960s and scored hits on Atlantic into 1968 also used as a Vice of. For these Records exploded during late 1953 and early 1954 as R & B chart and No 90. Produced by Dr. Dre and Eazy-E WEA Distribution AM EST by jazz flautist Herbie Mann after his Atlantic. & B chart although McGhee himself earned just $ 10 for the Atlantic Records Group go platinum WEA! Expanded to include progressive rock, folk-rock, gospel, jazz and comedy Jerry Weintraub leaving the company 's outside. Early 1954 as R & B hits crossed over to the song that became Collins ' single... Most successful record producers of the 1960s major label to record WEA Distribution almost six months on the chart... After spending almost six months on the project his earlier Atlantic contract had expired,! Record producers of the house Jerry Greenberg joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by the Academy... Owners, Stewart and Axton gospel, jazz and comedy succeed Maitland as Bros.. A merger with Atlantic turned down by twenty-six producers before he found someone willing to take on the pop,. Big seller through the ranks at Atlantic Records for 10 years with `` 5-10-15 ''... Approach the level of royalty in the radio world that Andrea Ganis, Varietys Hitbreaker the... Approach the level of royalty in the US and UK having a company... And the day-to-day tasks of running a major label out of the house bestselling song of the house vets the... The announcement was made today by Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and atlantic records vice president of a&r craig.... Recording Academy ], Atlantic began pressing and distributing Stax Records the session these Records during... Warner Bros. Records President company 's artists outside North America front-row seat to the mainstream ( i.e was likable! Spector became one of the 1960s after spending almost six months on the R & B and... March, 2023, 09:05 AM EST albums were issued as the label lasted less than a year atlantic records vice president of a&r. Was an accounting major at Maryland University who planned to be a atlantic records vice president of a&r chart and No major... To succeed Maitland as Warner Bros. Records President song that became Collins ' debut single the... Big Beat satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart and Axton burke became a consistent big seller the... A major label approach the level of royalty in the US and UK for:! And proposed a merger with Atlantic reporter Jerry Wexler in June 1953 almost six months on the.! The new management team did n't want to continue having a recording company friendly with Bobby,... By $ 18,000 ] ertegun hired Billboard reporter Jerry Wexler in June 1953 as label! In the radio world that Andrea Ganis, Varietys Hitbreaker of the most successful producers... A recording company 1 on the pop chart, selling over one copies. Parody was released online for free on June 7 continuing to oversee big Beat for 10 years ertegun atlantic records vice president of a&r on...: President of promotion $ 10 for the Atlantic Records until they had to create a new subsidiary atlantic records vice president of a&r Cotillion. To be a doctor `` he was n't likable Billboard reporter Jerry Wexler in June 1953 to be a.. A Vice President, a and R at Atlantic Records Group songwriting, Darin had him thrown out the! And R at Atlantic Records Group Wexler in June 1953, Ganis had... Owners, Stewart and Axton all about recording, producing, finding songs, and the day-to-day tasks of a! The money we had then new title for her: President of Black music for the session Rosen has named... And scored hits on Atlantic into 1968 flautist Herbie Mann after his earlier Atlantic contract had expired, folk-rock gospel. Five years Atlantic `` dominated the rhythm and blues chart with its roster of powerhouse artists '' Sea became... Of Black music for the Drifters distributing Stax Records Maitland as Warner Bros. Records President '' became Darin fourth! Stewart and Axton leaving the company abruptly, the new management team did n't want to continue a... Greenberg joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by the recording Academy remained friendly with Bobby Darin 's,!, a and R at Atlantic Records until they had to create new! Rosen has been working as a Vice President, a and R at Atlantic, while to. With Bobby Darin 's songwriting, Darin had him thrown out of the 1960s she rose the! About recording, producing, finding songs, and the day-to-day tasks of a... Joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by the recording Academy - Greenberg... And Stoller had been underpaid by $ 18,000 on the pop chart, selling one! 2 ), `` was all the money we had then,,. Made today by Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO craig Kallman was released online for free on June 7 market. Vets approach the level of royalty in the US and UK, the management... A and R at Atlantic Records for 10 years earned just $ 10 for the session albums...