Founded in 1947 by Turkish-American brothers Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun, Atlantic Records was one of the pioneering labels in R&B, jazz, and later, rock ‘n roll. Artists the label signed and/or recorded over the years include such legends as [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Ray Charles[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Ruth Brown[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]the Rolling Stones[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bobby Darin[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Sonny and Cher[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Big Joe Turner[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Led Zeppelin[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Kid Rock[/lastfm], and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bette Midler[/lastfm].

The man at the helm of the label was Ahmet Ertegun, who is today seen as one of the key visionaries in the history of the music business. A new biography of the life and work of Ahmet Ertegun, The Last Sultan (written by Robert Greenfield), was just published by Simon and Schuster and hits stores today.

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Ertegun steered Atlantic from its humble “indie” beginnings into a multinational corporation. He worked alongside famed producer Jerry Wexler, and served as mentor to the likes of David Geffen and Phil Spector.

From Simon and Schuster:

Brilliant, cultured, and irreverent, Ertegun was as renowned for his incredible sense of personal style and nonstop A-list social life as his work in the studio. Born into great privilege as the son of a high-ranking Turkish diplomat during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, Ertegun spent his life bringing the black-roots music he loved to the world.

A larger-than-life figure, always hip, Ertegun lived in the grand manner but was never happier than when he found himself in some down-and-out joint listening to music late at night. Blessed with impeccable taste and brilliant business acumen, he brought rock ‘n’ roll into the mainstream while creating the music that became the sound track for the lives of multiple generations.

Ertegun was also a cofounder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Jann Wenner, and was himself inducted in 1987.

Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson, and Ahmet Ertegun in 2002 (Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

Read more about The Last Sultan

Ertegun on Ray Charles

Ertegun on Led Zeppelin