Jerry Wexler, R&B Impresario, Is Dead at 91

[needlefingers]

Jerry Wexler, R&B Impresario, Is Dead at 91

Jerry Wexler, who as a reporter for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s christened black popular music with the name rhythm and blues, and who as a record producer helped lead the genre to mainstream popularity, propelling the careers of Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and other performers, died on Friday at his home in Sarasota, Fla. He was 91.


Please click for complete obituary

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

[discokicks]

Not too long ago, I watched a special about Atlantic Records and it comforted me to see the presence of Jerry Wexler and his honest passion for music. We are all so fortunate that he had such an open ear to great natural talent and the personal strength to put it to good use career-wise and for the betterment of the artists and music lovers everywhere.

RIP and thank you.

[Adrian Scott]

The last of the greats who probably did more for black musicians and artist than anyone. He will be missed.

He had a talent for developing the sound of so many great records. It is through his work work that black music made it's real break through into the area of popular music.