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Jamie Aaron Kelley/Ahmet Ertegun/Ahmet Ertegun

Ahmet Ertegün (/ˈɑːmɛtˈɛrtəɡən/), Turkish pronunciation: [ahˈmet eɾteˈɟyn]; July 31 [O.S. 18 July] 1923 – December 14, 2006) was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records, as a leader of the 1950's Rhythm & Blues revolution, and for discovering or championing artists like Eric Clapton; Phil Collins; Genesis; The Rolling Stones; Led Zeppelin; Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; Aretha Franklin; Ray Charles; Yes; Frank Zappa; and more. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum. Ertegun has been described as "one of the most significant figures in the modern recording industry." He also co-founded the New York Cosmos soccer team of the original North American Soccer League.

Born in Istanbul to an aristocratic Turkish family, Ahmet and his family, including elder brother Nesuhi, moved to Washington, D.C. in 1935, with their father, His Excellency Münir Ertegün, who served as the first Ambassador of the then-young Republic of Turkey to the United States of America. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey, Münir Ertegün was legal counsel in international law to the "Sublime Porte", House of the Imperial Ottoman Government.