The Turkish Embassy in Washington held a jazz concert in memory of Ahmet Ertegün and Nasuhi Ertegün, who opposed racism by supporting jazz music in Washington in the 1930s and 1940s.

The concert, hosted by Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan and his wife, İnci Mercan at the Washington Embassy residence, was organized with the contributions of Yunus Emre Institute Washington Office on March 30th, 2022.

The concert performed by the Herb Scott Quartet was attended by US Congressman Andre Carson and many Turkish and American guests.

“ERTEGÜN BROTHERS ACHIEVED A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY AGAINST RACISM”

In his speech before the concert, Ambassador Mercan commemorated Ahmet and Nasuhi Ertegün, stating that the Ertegün brothers, who hosted black jazz artists at the Washington Embassy Residence during the 1930s and 1940s, when racism was common in the United States, achieved a significant victory against racism.

Ambassador Mercan stated that the Washington Embassy and residence preserve the same sensitivity to human rights and freedoms that they did in the 1930s and 1940s.

The guests in the fully packed hall watched the concert with interest and accompanied the jazz artists with applause.

In the 1930s and 1940s, when racial discrimination was at its peak in the US and whites and blacks didn't get along for anything, including music, Ahmet and Nasuhi Ertegün, sons of Turkish Ambassador of Washington Mehmet Münir Ertegün, hosted both black and white jazz artists at the Embassy Residence.

Since 2010, commemoration events have been held on various occasions at the Washington Embassy to commemorate the anti-racism efforts combined with their passion for the music of the Ertegün brothers.