As the founder and head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun signed and/or recorded many of the greatest musical artists of all time, from Ray Charles to Kid Rock. Working alongside his older brother, Nesuhi, one of the preeminent jazz producers of all time, and the legendary Jerry Wexler, Ertegun transformed Atlantic Records from a small independent record label into a hugely profitable multinational corporation. In successive generations, he also served as a mentor to record-business tyros like Phil Spector, David Geffen, and Lyor Cohen. 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. 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.--From publisher description.
Robert Greenfield Book order (chronological)
Robert Greenfield possesses a profound immersion in the world of music and culture, enabling him to delve into the core of his subjects. His writing is characterized by brilliant analysis and an incisive perspective on the artists and movements that have shaped popular culture. With an infallible eye for detail and authenticity, he captures the spirit of the times and the complexities of human stories, offering readers an engaging and informed experience. Greenfield's ability to blend deep research with narrative artistry makes him a valued voice in rock history and biography.
Dark Star
- 384 pages
- 14 hours of reading
A national bestseller in hardcover, this intimate and revealing portrait of the beloved lead singer of the Grateful Dead presents the musician, the icon, and the man in the words of those who knew him best. Photos.
Thirty years ago, the Rolling Stones swept America, taking Exile on Main Street to Main Streets across the nation. Everyone held their breath to see what would happen; the Stones' previous U.S. tour had been a chaotic circus culminating in the infamous death of a fan at Altamont. And this tour (the "Stones Touring Party") was rumored to be wilder than ever: bigger shows in major arenas, with a far larger entourage and even more drugs. Robert Greenfield went along for the ride, and came away with a riveting insider's account, called by Ian Rankin "one of the greatest rock books ever written." The reality lived up to the rumor: take one part Lee Radziwill, a dash of Truman Capote, set the scene at Hef's Playboy mansion, and toss in the county jail for good measure. That was the Stones Touring Party, the ultimate rock 'n' roll band at the height of its spectacular depravity.