Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler (born 10 January 1917) is a music journalist turned highly influential music producer, and is regarded as one of the major record industry players behind 1960s soul music. He was born in the Bronx, New York City, into an Orthodox Jewish family.
Wexler served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked for BMI and the publishing division of MGM. He became a partner in Atlantic Records in 1953. There followed classic recordings with Ray Charles, the Drifters and Ruth Brown. With Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun he built up Atlantic into a major force.
In the 1960s he notably recorded Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin, cultivated a tight relationship with Stax Records, and founded the fortunes of the Muscle Shoals studio and rhythm section. His work in this decade put Atlantic at the forefront of soul music.
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