Ahmet’s House

Ahmet’s House is a non-profit organization to honor the legacy of Ahmet Ertegun. From jazz greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, to R&B legends Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and to rock stars Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, Ahmet launched and shaped careers and brought musical genres across racial divides for six decades.

Our goal is to spread the knowledge of the work Ahmet Ertegun did to make musical history. He had an incredible team at Atlantic Records, many whose names will be lost in time. It is our mission to see that does not happen.

Ahmet’s House end goal is to have a living Museum in locations pertinent to Mr. Ertegun’s life, where guests can experience the music and get to know the story of Ahmet and his co-founders and innovators.

“Why is Ahmet’s House personally important to me, as its Founder? Like all of the arts, music is often individual and very personal. We may share it with thousands, even tens of thousands on a perfect summer night, but most of our music is consumed alone, where we, each of us, enter into our own relationship with the songs and the artists.

My work to honor the life legacy of the Atlantic Records founder, including the efforts of so many gifted people on both sides of the microphone, began on the December day in 2006 when I heard the news on the radio of Ahmet’s passing. I began to think of the first time I became aware of the unifying thread that connected and ran through all of my favorite artists, albums and songs. I had been aware of the Atlantic Records influence since 1969, when as a teen I opened the trifold cover of the first album by Crosby, Stills and Nash. Along with the beautiful young faces, were the liner notes cryptic dedication: “Spiritual guidance, Ahmet Ertegun.” From that day forward I was on a search to learn everything I could about this Mystic Guru of recorded music in an Armani suit and a Hermes tie. With rare exception, this one American record label had given me almost all of the musical joys of my youth. Years later, I discovered that a young Blues lover in the UK had a similar moment of awareness once, as he too realized that all of his favorite music was from this one particular American label. That man was Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. I was in the middle of creating a radio station in 2006 and looking to build unique programming that would reflect our individual sound.

Upon hearing the news of Mr. Ertegun’s passing, I instantly knew that the first such show would be this thing I have devoted the past many years of my life in pursuit of: Ahmet’s House. Because, as Mr. David Crosby once sang, “I feel like I owe it, to someone!” I invite you to join me, to join us!”

Thank you,

Tony Gallucci

Founder, Ahmet’s House