The New York Post
Liz Smith
4/22/2007
YOU ALREADY know about record ty coon Ahmet Ertegun’s farewell cele bration taking place last week in the Rose Theater at Columbus Circle. About 700 people crammed in for the farewell to the Turkish/American phenomenon who created Atlantic Records. Ahmet was given a farewell that, had they charged for it. would have been the blockbuster box-office hit of all time – almost three hours of the famous from Phil Collins to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Solomon Burke, Sam Moore, Kid Rock, Stevie Nicks, Ben E. King.
And my favorites – the Manhattan Transfer. Not to omit a touching appearance by Bette Midler as a kind of classy emcee, doing “Princess Papoolee Has Plenty of Papaya; She Likes to Give It Away!” Bette appeared throughout giving a warm, witty and sweet touch to the proceedings.
Oh yes, and Mick Jagger, the piece de resistance at the end. He was cute. Most of the speeches were good, heart-felt, some a trifle dirty and funny. Oscar de la Renta did well, so did a clearly emotional Jann Wenner and best of all – surprise, direct from L.A., the record mogul David Geffen
