RIP famed record producer Jerry Wexler
 

First Tom Dowd, then Mo Ostin, then Ahmet Ertegun, now Jerry Wexler...the good ones are droppin' like flies.

Jerry Wexler dies @ 91

I agree, he was one of the greats, but he lived to age 91! That's hardly fly spanning! ;)

Paul Wexler said a private service will take place in the coming weeks in Sarasota, and his tombstone will read: “He changed the world.”

“I don’t think I’m overreaching,” he said.

The NY Times has a longer article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/ar...=1&oref=slogin

I didn't know that guy, but reading the article he produced some Ray Charles, Aretha, and even George Michael records.

though is off-topic, I didn't learna about Mo Ostin..!!! I know him more,, from Mick's book

May he rest. He did a lot of good work.

He worked with Carole King.. correct?

RIP.

I'm not sure. I do know he worked with Etta James and a whole slew of other people at Muscle Shoals.

No, he didn't produce for Carole King, but he worked with a certain lady that covered one of Carole King's songs in a major way. Quiz: Can you name her?

Well I did google him and Carole and it does seem he co-wrote Natural Woman with her and Gerry Goffin.

And I know I have heard her mention him on her Living Room tour CD

You are correct on the song writing credit and in naming Goffin with King. And the song is Natural Woman. But you didn't name the singer: Aretha! (Although Ms King did quite "okay" with her own song on Tapestry) ;)

I read this piece that Carole King wrote about Jerry Wexler:

Jerry Wexler
January 10, 1917 - August 15, 2008


Much has been and probably will be written about Jerry Wexler's influence on popular music in the 20th century, but I believe his influence goes beyond the music. I believe there is a direct correlation between Jerry's influence and the blending of black and white cultures. Today the cultural blending may not be everything it should be, but it is undeniably better now than it was before Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun brought a diverse array of music from the African-American culture to the ears and the lives of mainstream Caucasian Americans.

If you look at the writer's credit for "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" you'll see Jerry Wexler's name listed along with Gerry Goffin's and mine. That's because Jerry suggested the title "Natural Woman" to Gerry and me as part of an assignment to write a song for Aretha Franklin.

When I first came into the office of Atlantic Records as a teenager, Jerry and Ahmet were most gracious in letting me play my songs for them, live, in person, on a piano. I will never forget how they both really listened. They weren't scrolling through a BlackBerry. They were giving their full attention to ME, a fourteen-year-old songwriter! Their encouragement of Gerry and me in our earliest songwriting efforts was invaluable as we struggled to make a living, raise a family, and pursue a career in songwriting.

Jerry Wexler changed musical history, he changed the world, and he certainly changed my life--all for the better.

Jerry, normally people say "Rest In Peace" at a time like this, but I know you would never be happy resting. I expect you're with a lot of old friends now, and I hope you're all happily groovin' on the Rhythm and Blues you loved so much.

Peace, my friend, and thank you.
-Carole