Introduction to Joel Moss
Joel Moss, a renowned producer, engineer, and mixer, passed away on September 15th in Saratoga Springs, New York, at the age of 79. His daughter, Rachael Moss, announced that he died after experiencing an aortic section. Moss was a Grammy award winner for his work on numerous unforgettable Hollywood film numbers and recordings.
Early Life and Career
Moss was born on May 11, 1946, in Detroit. He began his music career at the end of the 1950s as a 12-year-old prodigy and member of the Hebrew quintet called Hi-Liters. In the early 1960s, when Rock’n’roll put folk music in the shade, he thought that his career could be over. However, he had enough experiences in studios and thought that could be fun. This experience ultimately led him to pursue a career in music production.
Rise to Fame
Moss’s career took a flight when he arrived in Los Angeles and found constant work. He eventually founded a career as a producer and engineer for artists such as Tony Bennett, The Eagles, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Cissy Houston, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Talking Heads. His work on the documentary from Talking Heads 1984, Stop Making Sense, was notable, as he was the first person to transfer the analogue shots to 24-track digital as an audio engineer.
Notable Works and Awards
Moss became a provider for the results for unforgettable films such as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Footloose, Sister Act, City Slickers, Sleepless in Seattle, The Mosquito Coast, Dead Poets Society, Gorillas in the Mist, and A Few Good Men. He was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards and won a total of seven trophies. His work on Broadway occupation recordings included credits for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, Hair, and Nice: The Carole King Musical, which earned him a Grammy for the best music theater album.
Later Life and Legacy
In recent years, Moss dedicated his time and talent as a writer, sound designer, and archivist for friends and musicians who performed at Caffe Lena Folk Club in Saratoga Springs. He was a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Academy for Artists. Moss is survived by his wife, Terrinnn Pellegri; daughter, Rachael Moss; grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Moss’s life will take place on October 14th in Caffe Lena, with the event being streamed live on the Caffe Lena page.
