Jerry Moss | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Moss in 1967 | |
| Born | Jerome Sheldon Moss (1935-05-08)May 8, 1935 |
| Died | August 16, 2023(2023-08-16) (aged 88) Bel Air,California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Brooklyn College (BA) |
| Occupations | Record company executive Racehorse owner/breeder |
| Known for | A&M Records,Zenyatta,Giacomo,Tiago, Madeo |
| Spouse | |
| Honors |
|
Jerome Sheldon Moss (May 8, 1935 – August 16, 2023) was an American recording executive, best known for being the co-founder ofA&M Records, along withtrumpet player andbandleaderHerb Alpert.[1][2]
After graduating fromBrooklyn College with a degree in English and serving in theUnited States Army, Moss began his music career by promoting "16 Candles", a 1958 hit forthe Crests onCoed Records.
In 1960, he moved to California, where he teamed up withHerb Alpert, forming Carnival Records in 1962 and running the company from an office in Alpert's garage. Discovering that the name was already taken, they dubbed their newly founded companyA&M Records.[citation needed]
Moss and Alpert agreed in 1989 to sell A&M toPolyGram for a reported $500 million. Both continued to manage the label until 1993, when they left because of frustrations with PolyGram's constant pressure to force the label to fit into its corporate culture. In 1998, Alpert and Moss sued PolyGram for breach of the integrity clause, eventually settling for an additional $200 million payment in 2003.[3]
A&M, itself, would later be merged intoGeffen andInterscope Records, which would then combine asInterscope Geffen A&M Records (now Interscope Capitol Labels Group) following a December 1998Seagram merger of PolyGram andUniversal Music Group.[4][5][6]
Alpert and Moss then expanded theirAlmo Sounds music publishing company to produce records as well, using it as a vehicle for Alpert's music. Almo Sounds imitates the former company culture embraced by Alpert and Moss when they started A&M.[citation needed]
Moss, Herb Alpert and Herb's cousin Steve Alpert were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 in the non-performer category.[7]
In 2004, Moss was appointed to theCalifornia Horse Racing Board, replacing longtime television producerAlan Landsburg.[8] Moss was a longtimehorse-breeder and owner who won the 2005Kentucky Derby withGiacomo, the first horse he had ever entered in that race, and the2009 Breeders' Cup Classic withZenyatta.[citation needed][9] In 2011, he was inducted into theSouthern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[10]
Part of his art collection sold for over $60 million at Christie's New York on 9 November 2023.[11]
Moss was married three times: his marriages to Helen Sandra Rusetos[12] and to Ann Holbrook ended in divorce.[13] Moss married Tina Morse in 2019, after dating since 2016.[14] They lived inBel Air, California andMaui, Hawaii.[14]
He died from natural causes at his Bel Air home on August 16, 2023, at the age of 88.[15][16]
In 2020, Moss and his wife Tina donated $25,000,000 to the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles, the largest single contribution ever made to the venue.[17]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |