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NEW YORK, NY (June 14, 2006) – The American Turkish Society (ATS) is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey has awarded the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award in Arts & Culture to Arif Mardin, the renowned music producer and long-time ATS Vice Chairman.   Meltem Onhon, Cultural Attaché in New York , will present the award to Joe Mardin, Arif Mardin's son, at the Society's annual meeting on June 14.   Talat Halman, Board Member of the Society, and the first Minister of Culture of the Republic of Turkey , played a crucial role in mobilizing the Society's efforts in Ankara to expedite the granting of the award.  

The Outstanding Achievement Award in Arts & Culture is given annually by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey to an artist who has made exceptional contributions to the advancement of Turkish arts and culture around the world.

Arif Mardin, born in 1932 in Istanbul, Turkey, is a world-famous music producer. Upon graduating from Berkelee College of Music as the first recipient of the Quincy Jones Scholarship, Mardin began his career at Atlantic Records working with Nesuhi Ertegun in 1963.  In 1969, he became a vice president and later served as the senior vice president until 2001. He worked closely on many projects with Ahmet Ertegun and producer  Jerry Wexler. Arif Mardin retired from Atlantic Records in May 2001 and re-activated his label Manhattan/EMI Records, where he received great acclaim for his work with Norah Jones. During his 40-year career, Mardin collected over 40 gold and platinum albums, 15 Grammy nominations and 12 Grammy Awards.  In 1990, Arif Mardin was inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Mardin's talent has benefited numerous artists in a variety of genres such as Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Hall & Oates, Jewel, Patti Labelle, Bette Midler, Diana Ross,  Ringo Starr and Barbra Streisand, among others. On July 1^st of this year, the evening performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival will be dedicated to Arif Mardin.

Arif Mardin's service at ATS spans over 20 years, as vice chairman and an active member of the Cultural Expansion Committee. He was intrumental in creating the committee and enhancing the cultural programs of the Society.  Mardin was the recipient of the "Award of Excellence" at an event hosted by the Society and Al em Magazine at the Tavern on the Green in December 2003. "Arif Mardin has been one of the most prolific board members of The American Turkish Society and a great friend. We are deeply grateful for his service," remarked Ahmet Ertegun, Founder of Atlantic Records and Chairman of the Society, "and we are honored to have such a great artist and true gentleman on our board."  

Established in 1949 in New York City , The American Turkish Society is America 's oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States .   The Society achieves its mission by bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, and scholars covering a spectrum of fields.   In addition, the ATS sponsors international programs such as the Global Educators Program in partnership with the American Field Service and the Mehmet Oz Cardiac Fellowship Program in partnership with Dr. Mehmet Oz. Moreover, the Society has always answered the need for philanthropy especially in the form of disaster relief in Turkey , most prominently through our very successful 1999 Earthquake Relief program.   The American Turkish Society is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. For more about the Society, please visit   www.americanturkishsociety.org.