US record producer Jerry Wexler, who created the term “rhythm and blues” and collaborated with the genre’s most renowned artists, such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan, died in Florida on Friday at the age of 91, Atlantic Records announced.

The famous music executive made a name for himself as partner in the prominent Atlantic Records label together with the late Ahmet Ertegun. The two partners, in cooperation with Nesuhi Ertegun, transformed the Atlantic Records into a distinguished brand name. After working with important figures such as Ray Charles, the Drifters and Ruth Brown, Jerry Wexler was named in 1967 Record Executive of the Year for significantly influencing Aretha Franklin’s career.

It was in the late 1940s, while writing for Billboard magazine, that the well-known music producer coined the term “rhythm and blues.”

Jerry Wexler produced the tremendously popular Aretha Franklin song “Respect” and Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” In addition to this, he facilitated Bob Dylan’s way to winning his first Grammy Award by helping him produce his 1979 album, “Slow Train Coming.”

In 1975, Mr. Wexler left Atlantic Records to join Warner Bros. Records and several years later he worked with UK pop icon George Michael, Carlos Santana and Dire Straits.

David Ritz, co-author of Wexler’s memoirs “Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music,” said the music producer was “the last of the old school record business guys who had to kick and scream and fight to get his records made, but a New York intellectual as well,” as quoted by Reuters.

In 1987, Jerry Wexler’s name was introduced in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.