Nesuhi Ertegun, who helped found the Atlantic record label and produced Ray Charles, John Coltrane and other musical greats, died Saturday. He was 71.
Ertegun, who was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and came to the United States when his father was named ambassador, helped found the Atlantic record label with his brother Ahmet.He also pursued his passion for soccer by founding the New York Cosmos and bringing international stars Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto to play in the United States.
Ertegun died at 2:40 a.m. of complications following cancer surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, his brother said.