Joel Moss (born May 11, 1946) is an American record producer, sound engineer and mixer.

Biography

Moss was born in 1946 in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

, to Jay Harmon and Dorothy Moss. At the age of twelve, he was performing with American and Canadian folk groups. He majored in architecture at the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

. As a student he was able to work with the Minnesota Orchestra and recorded musicians such as

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and ...

Bobby Lyle Robert Lyle (born March 11, 1944) is an American jazz pianist/organist and educator. Early life Lyle was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 11, 1944, to parents Robert and Elise Lyle. He grew up in a musical household after the family moved fr ...

and Willy Weeks. When folk music's popularity waned, Moss became a sound engineer and producer for rock and roll bands in Detroit. He moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1969 and found work producing and engineering projects for recording artists such as

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

and

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...

. He became the executive director and chief engineer of The Record Plant Recording Studios in 1986. This recording company operated

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

scoring stage, which enabled Moss to expand his musical endeavors with film music. He was able to develop new technology and production techniques. He became a member of the advisory board developing digital formats for film sound. In 1990, he worked and became associated with the

Hollywood Bowl Orchestra The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (HBO) is a symphony orchestra that is managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and plays the vast majority of its performances at the Hollywood Bowl. John Mauceri led the orchestra from its founding in 1990 ...

. Some of his associates were te maestro

John Mauceri John Francis Mauceri (born September 12, 1945) is an American conductor, actor, producer, arranger, voice actor, educator, writer and music composer. Since making his professional conducting debut almost half a century ago, he has appeared with ...

, Anne Parsons and the composer

Michael Gore Michael Gore (born March 5, 1951) is an American composer. He is the younger brother of singer Lesley Gore. Biography A 1969 graduate of the Dwight-Englewood School, Gore received the school's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004. Gore, along wi ...

. He founded his own Managra Music company in 1997, specializing in

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

and theatre. In 2000, Moss was hired as a sound engineer and mixer by

Kurt Deutsch Kurt Deutsch (born Jul 26, 1966, St. Louis, Missouri) is an actor, director, record producer and film producer. He is the president and co-founder, with then-wife Sherie Rene Scott, of Sh-K-Boom Records. In 2017, the company became a division of ...

and

Sherie Rene Scott Sherie Rene Scott (born February 8, 1967)Some sources give 1969, but Scott herself, at thOfficial Sherie Rene Scott Myspace Pageand at Lovece, Frank"Sherie Rene Scott is caught up in the 'Rapture'", ''Newsday'', May 6, 2010, gives 1967 is an Ame ...

, the founders of

Sh-K-Boom Records Sh-K-Boom Records is an independent record label and producer of recorded and live entertainment, which was founded in 2000 by Kurt Deutsch with the mission of bridging the gap between pop music and theater. In 2004 Sh-K-Boom created their seco ...

, a recording label that specializes in recording Broadway cast albums. Although most of the recording is done in New York City, he said he does production work at home. One of Moss's Grammy Awards was won for Best Musical Show Album for producing the cast recording of ''

In the Heights ''In the Heights'' is a musical with concept, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The story is a romance as well as a celebration of community, culture, and aspirations. It is set over the course of thr ...

'', a musical that opened on Broadway in 2008 about life in the street of Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The show has different types of Latin music, including rap, salsa and meringue. Moss was once quoted as saying, "I’m a bit cynical about awards in general, especially in today’s world; working is a lot more exciting than a reward. Also, to receive an award in a Broadway category when Broadway, like many things, is in dire straits is kind of daunting." Of Moss’s seven Grammy awards, he said the most meaningful was recording

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

for his album '' You Don't Know Me'', recorded in 2004 and released in 2005. "The Grammy I won, for Ray Charles, was very special, because I was the last person who recorded him. He died a few days later. I was happy to be a part of it," Moss said. Following a world premiere at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, ''High Fidelity'', began previews on Broadway on November 20, 2006, opening on December 7. The musical closed at the Imperial Theatre on December 17. The single CD was produced by Moss and the Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight President Kurt Deutsch. The recording has the original Broadway company, including Will Chase and Jenn Colella. Moss was one of the engineers and sound mixers for

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

's '' Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues'', winner of a 2002 Grammy Award. After the opening of ''Aida'' starring

Adam Pascal Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor, singer, and musician, known for his performance as Roger Davis in the original Broadway and West End productions of Jonathan Larson's musical ''Rent'', the 2005 movie version of the musi ...

, Moss produced Pascal's first solo CD, '' Model Prisoner'', heralded by critics as "a modern rock masterpiece". On Sh-k-boom Records, Moss is dedicated to bridging the gap between pop music and theater. His credits include

The Eagles The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971. With five number-one singles, six number-one albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s in ...

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1975.Talking Heads

and

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

. In 2005 they were invited to participate in a collaborative effort of original compositions involving 13 other outstanding artists of the Capital District of New York which resulted in ''Saratoga Pie'', a CD produced by Moss.

Discography

*''The Film Music of

Alex North Alex North (born Isadore Soifer; December 4, 1910 – September 8, 1991) was an American composer best known for his many film scores, including ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (one of the first jazz-based film scores), '' Viva Zapata!'', ''Spartac ...

'' as sound editor. Nonesuch Label 1986 *'' The Mosquito Coast'' (original soundtrack recording) as sound engineer. Fantasy Label 1987 *''

Fatal Attraction ''Fatal Attraction'' is a 1987 American psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and written by James Dearden, based on his 1980 short film '' Diversion''. It follows Dan Gallagher ( Michael Douglas), an attorney who cheats on his ...

'' (original motion picture) as sound recorder and mixer. GNP/Crescendo label 1987 *'' Omen IV: The Awakening'' (original motion picture soundtrack) as sound mixer and engineer. Varese Sarabande Label 1991 *''

South Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

'' (music from the ABC Premiere Event) as engineer, sound mixer and producer. Sony Music Label 2001 *''

on Broadway'' as sound mixer and engineer. Phillips Label 1996 *''Disney's Silly Classical Songs'' as sound mixer and engineer. Disney Label 2001 *''

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

'' (The Miramax motion picture) as engineer. Sony Music Label 2002 *''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters— Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details th ...

'' (original Broadway cast recording) as producer, audio producer, sound mixer. Ghostlight Label 1905 *''

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn, with a book written by Rachel Sheinkin, created by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional ...

'' (original Broadway cast recording] as producer, sound mixer, recorder. Ghoslight Label 2005

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moss, Joel 1946 births Living people Businesspeople from Detroit University of Minnesota School of Architecture alumni Record producers from Michigan American audio engineers