He was hip. He was hip to the tip, as we say. He was not a square. He was someone who understood the idiom.”

—Herb Abramson, founding partner of Atlantic Records, on Ahmet Ertegun

Ahmet had eyes to make records. He also had ears and tremendous taste.”

—Jerry Wexler, who succeeded Abramson as Ahmet Ertegun’s partner at Atlantic Records

Ahmet was sui generis. And then he made himself up as he went along.”

—Henry Kissinger, Ahmet Ertegun’s friend