YEAR
1993
INDUCTED BY
Billy Crystal
CATEGORY
Ahmet Ertegun Award
The man who set rhythm and blues loose with a rocking backbeat.
Milt Gabler produced the heavy-hitters, including Louis Jordan and Bill Haley. He wasn’t just there for the birth of rock and roll—he made it possible.
HALL OF FAME
ESSAY
By Jerry Wexler
Suppose a fellow was the principal record producer of Louis Jordan, Bill Haley and Lionel Hampton — arguably the three major founders of rock & roll — you would have to agree that anybody with credits that heavy would be a lock for the RRHOF.
But suppose on top of all of that the guy turns out to be the producer of Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Jimmie Lunceford, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Weavers AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG, would you say, hey y’all, what took so long?
Say hello to Milt Gabler.