Thursday, April 25, 2024
Afew known names have graced Gran-bury over the years – sports celebrities Mickey Mantle and Tom Landry, President George Bush Jr., governors Ann Richards and Bill Clements ... even lovestruck outlaws Bonnie and Clyde were said to have enjoyed a picnic on the courthouse lawn.
A lesser-known name – but one of great significance – visited Granbury too.
Heard of Ahmet Ertegun?
I didn’t either.
But I learned that the Turkish-born visionary was a titan in the music industry.
In 1947 he co-founded Atlantic Records that landed megastars Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
GRANBURY CONNECTION
So what was the Granbury connection?
Granbury artist Cynthia Brants.
She met Ahmet during World War II when she was an art student at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. They fell madly in love and planned to marry, but their families had other ideas. The relationship ended and both went their separate ways.
But during their dating period Cynthia played a key role in Ahmet’s success. In fact, she helped launch his musical career.
Ahmet didn’t own a car and needed transportation when he peddled his records across the country. Cynthia suggested he borrow her spanking new 1941 Mercury convertible when he hit the road. At first he said no, it was too generous of an offer, but he finally agreed at Cynthia’s insistence.
Cynthia’s selfless act paid off for her boyfriend’s fledgling career.
Fast forward 50 years to Granbury, Texas.
Brants’ phone rings.
“Hello Cynthia, this is Ah-met. Do you remember me?”
“Of course I do.”
“I’m in Granbury right now, and I’d like to pay you a visit. There’s something I want to do.”
“Sure, that’s fine.”
The two gathered at Cynthia’s lakeside home on Doyle Street.
“I’ve never forgotten what you did for me so I want to return the favor. I want to buy you a new Mercury convertible.”
Cynthia was flabbergasted but politely declined.
“I really don’t need one, Ahmet. I get a new car every year,” she explained.
Ahmet understood. The two, however, enjoyed the rest of the day reminiscing about the great ol’ days.
INTRODUCTION
Ahmet was introduced to music by his mother, Hayrunnisa, who played keyboard and stringed instruments. She bought the popular records of the day, to which Ahmet and his brother listened.
Hayrunnisa bought Ahmet a record-cutting machine when he was 14. He used the machine to compose and add lyrics to instrumental records.
Ahmet was an avid record collector, with a strong interest in jazz and blues, which is why Atlantic became the premier rhythm and blues label. The artist roster of the time reads like an honor roll of stars: Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, the Drifters, Ben. E. King, the Coasters, the Clovers.
Ahmet directed the growth of the label into the area of soul (Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Franklin) and rock (the Rascals, Iron Butterfly, Vanilla Fudge, Cream, Yes, the Bee Gees, Blind Faith, King Crimson, Genesis, Roxy Music, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the Rolling Stones and Zeppelin).
ALSO KNOWN
Cynthia wasn’t without recognition.
She was considered one of the most prominent Texas modern artists (the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth includes her work).
Cynthia had an art studio in Fort Worth and Granbury, and taught painting and drawing at Sarah Lawrence College. At the Granbury Opera House she designed and painted the scenes.
She once gave Bob Hope a painting lesson at her Fort Worth studio.
Cynthia died in 2006 at the age of 81.
Ahmet died the same year. At age 83 he fell while attending a Rolling Stones benefit concert. His head hit the concrete floor, and he died several weeks later.
He was described as “one of the most significant figures in the modern recording industry.”
