Statement from Family:
LARRY ROSEN, LEGENDARY JAZZ MUSIC VISIONARY & ENTREPRENEUR ,
PIONEERED THE MERGE OF MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of
beloved jazz music visionary and entrepreneur, Larry Rosen, who passed away at
his New Jersey home surrounded by family, Oct. 9, 2015 at the age of 75 after a
valiant battle with brain cancer.
In a legendary career that spanned over five decades, Rosen was a
lifelong jazz lover who among his many achievements helped redefine the
American jazz label, pioneered the merge of music and technology, and most
recently revived the performance arena for jazz with the JAZZ ROOTS concert series and
educational programs.
Rosen began his
musical career as a drummer with the Newport Youth Band, meeting future partner
Dave Grusin while working with singer Andy Williams and attending
the Manhattan School of Music. In 1972,
Grusin and Rosen formed Grusin/Rosen Productions which would evolve from a freelance
production team to a performer-centric jazz label over the next few years,
discovering and developing homegrown talent like Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh, and Noel Pointer.
In 1978,
Grusin/Rosen Productions signed a long-term deal with Arista Records president Clive Davis. Arista/GRP outperformed commercial
expectations and redefined the boutique American jazz label. In 1979, Rosen
used the opportunity to advance the state of the art engineering, co-producing
the Dave Grusin album Mountain
Dance--the first- digitally recorded non-classical album.
Grusin and
Rosen established GRP Records, Inc., in
1982. Under their dual proprietorship, Rosen's personal enthusiasm for
digital recording was translated into a corporate mission. Their
pioneering all digital approach became well-known as the “digital master
company,” releasing their entire catalog on Compact Disc- which helped launch
the format in the United States.
GRP Records
was recognized as Billboard Magazine's #1 Contemporary Jazz label for five
consecutive years while its artists were nominated for over 80 GRAMMY Awards,
winning 33. GRP's artist roster grew to include many notable artists including
Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Diana Krall,Diane Schuur, Patti Austin, Dr. John, Dave Grusin, Spyro Gyra,
The Rippingtons, David Benoit, The New
York Voices, Tom Scott, Gary Burton, B.B. King, Ramsey
Lewis, Arturo Sandoval, Michael
Brecker, Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets, Don Grusin, Kevin Eubanks and the GRP All-Star Big Band. In 1990,
Rosen and Grusin sold GRP Records to MCA Records with Rosen remaining as
President & CEO of the label.
Soon after
leaving GRP in 1995, Rosen went on to co-found one of the first Internet
e-commerce and content companies, N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ). Serving as its chairman
and CEO, Rosen led the company to an IPO offering. In addition to its online
music store, Music Boulevard, N2K produced a number of genre-based community
sites (Rocktropolis, Jazz Central Station, Classical Insites) and artist sites
including Leonard Bernstein, Miles Davis, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones.
N2K was also a digital music distribution pioneer, offering the first digital
downloads in late 1996. At the height of the Internet business in 1999, Mr.
Rosen successfully merged N2K Inc. with one of its top competitors, CDNow Inc.
Rosen appeared on the cover of Forbes Magazine as an Internet Icon In
1998.
As chairman
of Larry Rosen Productions, he created and produced the critically acclaimed
PBS television HD series LEGENDS OF JAZZ , with
pianist Ramsey Lewis, and the 7
part television series titled RECORDING:
The History of Recorded Music, with hosts Quincy Jones and Phil Ramone.
In 2008,
Rosen created "JAZZ ROOTS - A Larry Rosen Jazz Series," a
concert and educational program for performing arts centers. JAZZ ROOTS first launched at the Adrienne Arsht
Center For the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County and in its eighth
successful season is credited for making Miami a jazz capital of the
world. With its success, the series grew to performing arts centers and
venues in Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Orlando. World class
artists have appeared throughout the series including Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Chick
Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, John McLaughlin, Ramsey Lewis, Eliane Elias, Ivan Lins, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Sergio
Mendes, Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau,
Aaron Neville, Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, Dave Grusin, Jon Secada and many more.
In 2012, he
established the annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition
(SASSY Award), at NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey, which is now entering its fourth
successful year.
Mr. Rosen was
the recipient of the Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in
New Media and Entertainment, the GRAMMY Governor Honor Roll, served on the
boards of the Dave Brubeck Institute, The Music for Youth Foundation, The Frost
School of Music Steering Committee, NFAA/ Young Arts and with Dave Grusin is
the founder of the National Foundation for Jazz Education. Mr. Rosen received an Honorary
Doctorate from Manhattan School of Music in 2013.
He
is survived by his beloved wife, Hazel and his devoted children J.J. and Leslie
Rosen, Sandra and Glenn Honigman; his grandchildren, Matthew, Sammy, Eric,
Craig; his mother Vivian Rosen and sister Susan Zelinka.
A private family service will be followed by a forthcoming
public memorial service, details will be announced shortly.
The
family requests that donations can be made in memory of Larry Rosen to
"The Trustees of Columbia/Dr. Fabio Iwamoto's Research" and sent to:
Columbia University Medical Center/Office of
Development
Attn: Matt Reals
100 Haven Avenue, Suite 29D
New York, NY 10032
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