RIP Jerry Wexler

I was saddened to hear of the death of Jerry Wexler on August 15. Wexler, who was 91, was a leading producer at Atlantic Records and worked with rhythm and blues giants such as Ray Charles, the Drifters, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin. He pushed black music in to a mainstream audience in a big way, and he worked with blue-eyed soul singers as Dusty Springfield. Wexler, though, was not a great fan of folk rock - he was miffed at Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun for signing Crosby, Stills and Nash (and even reportedly chased them out of a rehearsal studio) - but his influence was overall positive and productive. R.I.P.