Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Dead Page-- Coined Term "Rhythm & Blues

JERRY WEXLER, 91

Died August 15th. Helped shape the sound of the second half of the 20th century. While working for Billboard, he coined the phrase rhythm and blues to replace the "race music " category.

After he got together with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records, they pushed black music on the American public with such artists as Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Ray Charles. That's quite a lineup.

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