Ahmet Ertegun was a Turkish-American businessman, songwriter, and philanthropist, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. Born in 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey, Ertegun moved to the United States with his family in his youth. In 1947, he co-founded Atlantic Records, which became one of the most successful and influential record labels in the music industry. Ertegun played a crucial role in promoting and shaping the careers of numerous legendary artists, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Led Zeppelin.