The House that Ahmet Built

Capitol Records, RCA, Universal, Atlantic, you all probably recognize those names, especially in association with big time artists. But how much do we really know about them besides the fact that they are multibillion dollar companies. The only thing I knew about Atlantic records was that they had signed Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, that was it.

This documentary was not only educational but completely shocking. The accomplishments of Ahmet Ertegun, founder and CEO of Atlantic Records exceeds that of anyone else in the music industry.

Ertegun came from Turkey as the son of an Ambassador in the 1930's and, like a magnetic force, was drawn immediately to American music.

Ertegun and Atlantic Records has been responsible for signing artists from all ends of the spectrum. The biggest names in jazz, motown, soul, disco, pop, rock and even hip hop all "lived under his house".

Ertegun was personally responsible for Ray Charles hit "Mess Around", Joe Turner's "Shake Rattle and Roll" and Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" to name a few.

 

The most special aspect of the documentary was that it started with Bette Midler asking him who, out of everyone he has worked with, who would he like to meet with again. Ertegun's response was, "everyone", and so the film follows him as he talks with almost all of the artists that he had signed and worked with over the decades.The documentary was released a year after Ertegun's death in 2007.

It is a truly special film to watch as we have all been affected one way or another by the music he has made available to us.