Died On This Date (December 14, 2006) Ahmet Ertegun / Iconic Label Head
themusicsover Ahmet Ertegun
July 31, 1923 – December 14, 2006
Ahmet Ertegun was arguably the most celebrated record label executives in the history of recorded music. In 1947, he and Herb Abramson formed Atlantic Records to focus on R&B, jazz and gospel music. Over the next decade, they brought Ertegun’s brother, Nesuhi Ertegun, and Jerry Wexler on board, while building an artist roster that included Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Big Joe Turner. By putting more focus on the development of their artists’ talents and careers, Atlantic Records quickly established itself as one of popular music’s premier labels. When the ’60s hit, Ertegun and other head’s of the label decided to broaden its focus to include soul and rock, signing such acts as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young. The Erteguns sold Atlantic to Warner Bros. in 1969, but Ahmet stayed involved for many years to come. On October 29, 2006, Ertegun fell and hit his head on the concrete floor, while in the VIP backstage area of a Rolling Stones concert. He sustained head injuries that eventually lead to a coma. On December 14 of that same year, Ahmet Ertegun, 83, passed away.
Chris Feinstein is best remembered as a producer as well as the most recent bassist for Ryan Adams & the Cardinals. Prior to joining Adams, Feinstein collaborated with Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes and Jack Ingram. In 2006, he joined Adams’ band, playing on Easy Tiger, Follow The Lights and Cardinology as well as touring with them. Reports indicate that Chris Feinstein, age 42, died in his home on December 14, 2009. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Kurt Winter was a songwriter and guitarist who replaced Randy Bachman in the Guess Who in 1970. He wrote a few of the songs hits, including Hand Me Down World and Bus Rider. He left the group in 1974 and became a successful businessman. In later years, he participated in various reunions of the group. Kurt Winter, 51, died of kidney failure on December 14, 1997.
Chuck Schuldiner was a rock singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been called the “father of death metal” for creating a genre by marrying the best elements of British metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with those of thrash bands like Slayer and Mercyful Fate. Schuldiner began learning the acoustic guitar before he was ten-year old, but soon grew tired of it, so his parents bought him an electric guitar and amps which he took too with a vengeance. In 1983, he formed his first band, Mantas who eventually morphed into Death, a band that would define the death metal genre, much in the same way 
Zal Yanovsky is best remembered as the lead guitarist for the Lovin’ Spoonful. He was with the band from its inception in 1964 until he was asked to leave following a marijuana bust in 1967. He played on such rock classics as “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic.” Following his run in Lovin’ Spoonful, Yanovsky released a solo album and appeared in the theater presentation of National Lampoon’s Lemmings. Later in life, he became a successful restauranteur. On December 13, 2002, Zal Yanovsky died of heart failure at the age of 57.