Rock legends honour record label boss

It was an all-star night in New York City on Tuesday (April 17th) as music industry legends came out to pay their respects to the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger told the audience at Lincoln Center that while some people thought of Ertegun as a father figure, his impression of Ertegun was "more like the wicked uncle with the wicked chuckle."

Eric Clapton was part of a band that played two Atlantic hits -- "Please Send Me Someone To Love," which was recorded by Percy Mayfield, and the Stick McGhee number "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," which was the label's first hit. Clapton added that these were two songs that Ertegun would always sing to him when they got drunk together. Clapton and company also backed R&B legend Solomon Burke for his performance.

Crosby, Stills & Nash did the Beatles song "In My Life," then were joined by Neil Young for "Helplessly Hoping," with Young noting at the end of the song how lucky he and his bandmates were to have had someone like Ertegun in their corner when they were starting out. Then David Crosby and Graham Nash left the stage as Young and Stephen Stills did a version of their Buffalo Springfield classic "Mr. Soul," and when that song ended, Young looked up and said, "Thanks, Ahmet."

Phil Collins did a solo piano version of his hit "In The Air Tonight," then was joined by his Genesis bandmates for a run through "Follow You, Follow Me."
Stevie Nicks used her time on stage to spotlight herself and some Atlantic history. In addition to her own hit "Stand Back," Nicks and her band ripped through the Led Zeppelin standard "Rock And Roll."

The rumored Led Zeppelin reunion didn't happen, but John Paul Jones backed Ben E. King at the memorial, while Robert Plant and Jimmy Page sang along at an after-party in Central Park as Paul Shaffer led a group of musicians through one Atlantic hit after another.

Yes was represented by drummer Alan White, since frontman Jon Anderson was performing with the students from the Paul Green School Of Rock that night in Poughkeepsie, New York. But Anderson made a point to tell us how important Ertegun was to him, and to music in general: ["Ahmet Ertegun was really the father of progressive music, and so much music with Atlantic Records, you know? And Ahmet was really good for us, and I looked up to that guy so much. He was so healthy for music, you know?"]

Others taking part in the events were Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, R&B legend Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Dr. John, Kid Rock, and Bette Midler.

There were cameras rolling at Lincoln Center, and the footage is expected to go to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, of which Ertegun was a founder and a major supporter, but it's unknown whether a commercial release is being planned.
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