We note with sadness the passing of American recording executive Jerry Moss, on August 16. Many operagoers know his name because of our wonderful Jerry Moss Plaza, which is named in his honor after a $25 million transformative donation to The Music Center. He was also a generous supporter of LA Opera. Moss had a long history in the artistic sphere. He started working in music in 1958 when he helped promote the song “16 Candles” by The Crests. In 1962, he partnered with Herb Alpert to form Carnival Records, which would then become A&M Records. For over two decades, it flourished into the premiere independent record company in the world. The Police, The Carpenters, Quincy Jones, Carole King, and Al Green were among the many artists scouted and signed by the legendary A&M.
In 1989, Moss and Alpert sold A&M Records for a reported $500 million to PolyGram Records. The pair would stay with the label to manage it until 1993, when they left to find the publishing company Almo Sounds, which would become a boutique label in its own right. In 2006, Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their contributions over decades of dedicated work.
A philanthropist, businessman, adventurer, sportsman, and patron of the arts, Jerry leaves an indelible legacy across Los Angeles. We mourn his passing and are incredibly thankful for the generous support he gave to live music throughout his life. Jerry Moss is survived by his wife Tina, his four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
