Ahmet Ertegun.

His father, Münir Ertegün, was the Turkish ambassador to the United States, and Ahmet was born in 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey. The diplomatic posting brought the family to Washington, D.C., where Ertegun attended Landon School. He later studied at Georgetown University and St. John’s College. Those years fueled his passion for jazz and blues.

In 1947, Ertegun co-founded Atlantic Records with Herb Abramson. The label became a rhythm and blues and rock and roll powerhouse. He also co-founded Bang Records in 1965 with Bert Berns, Nesuhi Ertegün, and Jerry Wexler, signing acts like The McCoys and Neil Diamond. Ertegun composed for films including Angel Heart 1987 and Planes, Trains & Automobiles 1987.

Ertegun married Jan Holm; his earlier marriage to Ioana Maria Banu Grecianu ended in divorce. His brother, Nesuhi Ertegün, became a music executive and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Their father, Münir Ertegün, served as the Turkish ambassador to the U.S.

Ertegun earned the nickname Father of Rock and Roll for popularizing the genre through Atlantic Records. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him as a non-performer in 1987. He received the Grammy Trustees Award and was named a Library of Congress Living Legend. His legacy bridges Turkish and American cultures and helped spread rock and roll worldwide.