Jerry Wexler R.I.P

US record producer Jerry Wexler, who influenced the careers of singers including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan, has died aged 91.

David Ritz, co-author of Mr Wexler's memoirs, said the producer passed away at his home in Sarasota, Florida.

Wexler rose to fame as a partner in Atlantic Records with the late Ahmet Ertegun.

Amongst many others, Wexler produced seminal recordings by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge and Wilson Pickett.

The son of Polish immigrants, Wexler was born in Manhattan, New York, in 1917. He developed a passion for jazz and blues in his teens, frequenting clubs in the Harlem district of the city.

He also wrote one of the more entertaining music biographies the Shades site has ever read, although its complete veracity might be open to question in a number of areas. You can read a review of his book here

Read a little more about Wexler and Atlantic Records here