A song comes on the radio. It’s one of those songs that has defined your life. It could be Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, or Wilson Pickett. If your romantic life has been like mine, “When A Man Loves A Woman” has figured into it a time or two. A smile crosses your face, or maybe you feel the tears well up in your eyes. Maybe both at once. You think about where you were, and who you were there with that long-ago night. You begin to move. It’s not something that you do consciously; the rhythm takes control of you.

Any one of the songs that we’re providing here would be a career-maker for a record producer. These very special songs have one thing in common — an uncommon producer. All of these songs were produced by Jerry Wexler, who died early this morning at his home in Florida. He was 91 years old.

Wexler was a partner in the creation of Atlantic Records — in its heyday, the greatest record label that ever existed. Atlantic was founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. When Abramson left for the Army in 1953, Wexler joined the company. He would remain at Atlantic for more than 20 years.

Atlantic built its reputation by providing a home for the great rhythm and blues and jazz artists of the time. It was Wexler’s work that made the company, in those days an indie label, a great power in the world of soul music. He rescued Aretha Franklin from seven years of singing show tunes at Columbia Records and urged her to be herself. He forged a strong relationship with Stax Records, putting the Memphis label on the map. Later, together with Ertegun, he signed Led Zeppelin to Atlantic. He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. (more…)