Jerry Moss, co-founder of A&M Records and Rock Hall of Fame member, dies at 88

Jerry Moss, co-founder of A&M Records and Rock Hall of Fame inductee, has passed away at the age of 88.

His life and impact: Jerry Moss, together with Herb Alpert, founded A&M Records and turned it into one of the music industry’s most successful independent labels.
* Their label was home to multiple blockbuster artists like the Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Janet Jackson, and Soundgarden, amongst others.
* Apart from music, Moss and his second wife, Ann Holbrook, also owned a lucrative horse racing business.

Legacy on the music industry: Moss was remembered for his ability to recognize and nurture talent.
* A&M Records released several major hits including Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey,” the Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together,” and the Police’s “Every Breath You Take.”
* Singer Rita Coolidge praised Moss and Alpert during a tribute concert, stating they had “changed the face of the record industry.”

Moss’ beginnings: Starting in a garage in Los Angeles, Moss and Alpert built A&M Records into a game-changing independent label.
* The label started with a $200 investment and the duo operated out of Alpert’s garage, leading to their first major hit with Alpert’s instrumental “The Lonely Bull.”
* Despite selling A&M to Polygram in the late ’80s, Moss continued to influence the music industry, later running Almo Records with Alpert.

Tributes and family: Moss’ surviving family and industry colleagues remember him fondly.
* His family released a statement mourning his loss, praising his spirit and readiness for new adventures.
* Moss made his last public appearance at a tribute concert in January where artists like Peter Frampton, Amy Grant, and Dionne Warwick performed.

View original article on NPR

This summary was created by an AI system. The use of this summary is subject to our Terms of Service.

Contact us about this post

Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *