I came close to signing Elvis Presley. I offered $25,000 for his contract and they asked for $45,000 and I just didn't have the other $20,000. Ahmet Ertegun 000askclose Change image and share on social
I think it's better to burn out than to fade away... it's better to live out your days being very, very active - even if it destroys you - than to quietly... disappear. Ahmet Ertegun activeburnday Change image and share on social
Fifty years from now, people will still be listening to Led Zeppelin. They won't even remember me. Ahmet Ertegun fiftyleadlisten Change image and share on social
The songwriters whom we think of being the greatest songwriters usually write one hit and six or seven flops. That includes the Irving Berlins and the Hoagy Carmichaels, the Harold Arlens, Cole Porter. Ahmet Ertegun arlensberlincarmichael share on social
I don't use the computer. But my secretary does. I want to take some computer courses because I'm interested in some of the access to some of the illegal things on the Internet. I'm just kidding. Ahmet Ertegun accesscomputercourse Change image and share on social
Everyone felt like they knew Ray Charles and in a way they did, because he was embodied by his music. Ahmet Ertegun charleembodyfelt Change image and share on social
The Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame will provide a center where the lives and the artistry of the greatest jazz musicians will be celebrated, and where people will come to learn about jazz, something to which my brother devoted his life's work. Ahmet Ertegun artistrybrothercelebrate share on social
I love Ray Charles. He can still teach everybody a lot about how to make great music. Not necessarily how to make hits, but how to make great music. Of course, part of it is his incredible talent. Who are the greatest jazz singers in the world? Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles. Ahmet Ertegun armstrongbilliecharle share on social
Jesse Stone did more to develop the basic rock-and-roll sound than anybody else. Ahmet Ertegun basicdevelopjesse Change image and share on social
Rock n' roll really belongs to all America. It really doesn't belong to one city. Ahmet Ertegun americabelongcity Change image and share on social