Ahmet Ertegun Professions : Songwriter Born : July 31, 1923 Died : December 14, 2006 Browse All Authors Top 42 quotes by Ahmet Ertegun I first heard Laura Branigan sing live in my brother Nesuhi's apartment, where we had gone because he had a very good piano. I immediately realized that she had a great pop voice, in the classical sense. Laura had an instinctive feel for music and melody, and her delivery was sensational. Everybody at Atlantic knew that we had a winner in this young lady, and she came through with great hits that will be remembered for many years to come. I consider Laura to be one of my best signings, and I am proud to have had such a great singer in my career in the record business. We miss her dearly. Ahmet Ertegun voice careers brother The all-time greatest Atlantic group - The Drifters Ahmet Ertegun drifters all-time groups I love Ray Charles. He can still teach everybody a lot about how to make great music. Not necessarily how to make hits, but how to make great music. Of course, part of it is his incredible talent. Who are the greatest jazz singers in the world? Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles. Ahmet Ertegun great holiday music love There is a certain sort of excess that is interesting, don't you think? And America is, of course, the most excessive place. Ahmet Ertegun place think you america I think it's better to burn out than to fade away... it's better to live out your days being very, very active - even if it destroys you - than to quietly... disappear. Ahmet Ertegun live better think you Soul lyrics, soul music came at about the same time as the civil rights movement, and it's very possible that one influenced the other. Ahmet Ertegun possible music soul time It is very important that the world know that there have been 500 years of peaceful coexistence in Turkey between the Jews and Moslems. Ahmet Ertegun know peaceful important world Rock n' roll really belongs to all America. It really doesn't belong to one city. Ahmet Ertegun belong rock city america There's no place in the world you can go and not hear rock-and-roll, from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to Phil Collins. Ahmet Ertegun place go you world I don't use the computer. But my secretary does. I want to take some computer courses because I'm interested in some of the access to some of the illegal things on the Internet. I'm just kidding. Ahmet Ertegun some things internet want When I first heard Ray Charles, he was a flop artist on a small label in California. He hadn't sold any records. And I bought his contract for $2,500. Ahmet Ertegun first small he artist Fifty years from now, people will still be listening to Led Zeppelin. They won't even remember me. Ahmet Ertegun will me remember people If anybody asks me where I'm from, my first inclination is to say, 'Washington,' because that's where I grew up meaningfully. Ahmet Ertegun say first where me You know what I'd really like to do? I'd like to record some white Chicago jazz. Ahmet Ertegun know you jazz white America is remarkable, don't you think so? When I came to Washington, I was twelve years old. I spoke English with an English accent. It was assumed that it would go on in that way. Ahmet Ertegun go think you way Flashy people aren't everything, you know. Even when they have frizzled hair. Ahmet Ertegun know you hair people Jesse Stone did more to develop the basic rock-and-roll sound than anybody else. Ahmet Ertegun than stone more sound As I grew up, I began to discover a little bit about the situation of black people in America and experienced an immediate empathy with the victims of such senseless discrimination. Because although the Turks were never slaves, they were regarded as enemies within Europe because of their Muslim beliefs. Ahmet Ertegun empathy situation black people I've lived very well all my life, even when I had no money, and there's very little I can't afford. Ahmet Ertegun well my-life money life The songwriters whom we think of being the greatest songwriters usually write one hit and six or seven flops. That includes the Irving Berlins and the Hoagy Carmichaels, the Harold Arlens, Cole Porter. Ahmet Ertegun greatest write being think Similar Authors Brenton Brown songwriter Butch Walker songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox songwriter Aurora Aksnes songwriter Audrey Assad songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim songwriter All Authors