How did the Atlantic Records thing happen?
R: I became Tom Dowds assistant. And met Jerry Wexler, who would later bring in Aretha. She really broke right when I got back from Greece. I remember going to see her at the Village Vanguard and there were 8 or 9 free tables. Then all of a sudden in 68 she really hit big with I Never Loved a Man. At Bard College I had about 12 advisors who had to read essays. There was a field period where I worked in a little record shop in West Hartford and got a little salary of $20 a week and 10 albums. So I began absolutely collecting stuff. At Atlantic, just to be able to meet Laverne Baker. I said, Would you like water. She said, Buster when I want a drink, you better know what I mean. Ruth Brown would drop by. Ahmet Ertugun would want coffee one way, Jerry Wexler another. Herb Abramson another. I arrived there one Monday in January and nobody knew who the hell I was. Neshui had hired me and he was away on a trip. I arrived and said, Oh, Mr. Ertugan, Im so happy to be here. He said, Who the hel
