© 2026 NPR Illinois
For your right to be curious.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
NPR Illinois is seeking a full-time multimedia journalist to co-host/produce/edit/report for a new daily, regional radio news hour with Sean Crawford. Click to apply.

Legendary Hitmaker Jerry Wexler

The man who coined the term "Rhythm & Blues" died August 15 at the age of 91. Record producer Jerry Wexler began his career as a music journalist for Billboard magazine, then moved on to become a partner at Atlantic Records in the early 1950s before joining Warner Bros. in the 1970s. He was responsible for creating the careers of some of the greatest musicians of the time, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Led Zeppelin.

This interview was originally broadcast on May 7, 1993.

Copyright 2023 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.