The Atlantic Records Story
(written by.S.Gounelas)
In The late 1940’s early 50’s, A young Man named Ahmet Ertegun Loved Music so much
That he had decided to Open up a Small Independent label entitled “Atlantic” in the offices of 1740 Broadway in New York Doo wop which was born the day After The Blues and Gospel Doo wop was a Genre of Music that Consisted of Young Men and Women singing acapella on street corners, Hallways,Schoool bathrooms, any place where there was an echo.ahmet decided to Run with this Genre,and release songs on “subsidiary labels” he created now back then there was only 10 inch 78s


The earliest 78 out of Atlantic was “Sh-boom” by the chords which its members were. Ricky Edwards,Jimmy Keyes,Carl Feaster,Claude Feaster,Floyd Mcrae.sh-boom was a b-side to their debut single on Atlantic entitled “Cross over the bridge” on the Atlantic Subsidiary “Cat Records” Dj’s such as Freed ( the father of Rock n Roll) in my opinion turned it over during his stint at New york’s 1010 wins. And it became a smash for Atlantic,since then Atlantic records has turned out many classic doo wop acts, The Drifters, the Coasrers, Laverne Baker, The Bobettes ( I shot Mr.lee and walkin with Mr. lee)

And then Comes a young man who didn’t have the gift of sight but had the gift of Genius, this man RAY CHARLES. Ray continued to record a few albums for Atlantic but had left due to contractional issues, and left Atlantic for ABC/Paramount and created his own Label there called “TRC” times started changing for Atlantic, New sounds started coming through the New York air a sound From Memphis that had powerful Horns, Bluesy Guitar,soulful arrangements this small label out of the satellite record shop in Memphis was STAX founded by Estelle Axton and Jim stewart Estelle’s son Charles “packy” Axton was a member of the Original “Mar-keys” ( Last Night)

With young and Budding artists such as the formentioned Mar-Keys, Bar Kays, Booker T and the MG’s, the Mad Lads, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, etc. with also up and coming songwriters and producing team Isaac Hayes and David Porter, with No possible way of getting this sound out of Memphis and into the world’s ears, Estelle and Jim as Atlantic for a distribution deal for Stax Records, its then that Atlantic becomes the 2nd biggest selling label next to Motown in that Era of Music. Sadly on December 10th 1967 A fatal Plane crash takes the Life of Otis Redding and members of the Original Bar Kays. The only existing piece of that fatal and sad day was Fallon Jones’s saxophone, which is now on display at the Stax Museum in Memphis.

So In closing had it Not been for Ahmet we would not have these sounds as an inspiration to Lovers of Good music that gives us fond memories, of ChildHood such as mine, and school and High school, or summer days, listening to The Rascals on an AM radio to “groovin or it’s a beautiful Morning” or that incredible opening horn line to Otis’s “try a Little tenderness and the opening bass line to sittin on the dock of the bay” or Doin the “Tighten up” with Archie Bell and the Drells with that early soulful Philly sound. Thank you Atlantic Records for seeing me and many others like me Grow up with you.

Fin.

it's great!


I'm waiting for you to write an article on the 70s disco era

informative piece, bruh. nice work.

Not bad at all, but you need an editor. Seriously, don't fear the period.