House of Blues: late ‘R&B’’ coiner Jerry Wexler’s home for sale

New York Post

By Jennifer Gould KeilJune
June 24, 2015

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Rock ’n’ roll is also looking good at the beach. An 8,000-square-foot oceanfront home in East Marion once owned by the late Jerry Wexler, the former music journalist-turned-producer known for coining the term “rhythm and blues” and for being behind the biggest names for 50 years — from Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Led Zeppelin to Dire Straits — is currently on the market for $6.5 million.

The current owner is Tom Aprea, who has quite the story himself. In an interview with Gimme Shelter, Aprea says he began as Wexler’s “music assistant, chef, chauffeur, bodyguard and boat captain.” When Wexler left his wife Shirley in the 1980s, he asked Aprea to stay on to take care of his wife and kids.

Aprea agreed — and ended up marrying Shirley and staying with her through her fight with cancer until her death in 1994. The seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom home — which has seen some famed rock-’n’-roll parties over the years — comes with more than 1,000 square feet of beachfront overlooking Orient Point Harbor.

The property boasts an infinity pool, four deepwater docks and multiple level decks for bayside entertaining. There’s also lots of music history inside the home from the rock stars who “partied, fished and made music there,” Aprea says.

“All the greats were here, including Eric Clapton and the Stones. The house is so secluded, it was like a studio, with lots of jam sessions.” The broker is Robert Canberg of Nest Seekers International.

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