GRP Records Co-Founder, Jazz Producer Larry Rosen Dies At 75

Rosen

GRP RECORDS co-founder and jazz record producer LARRY ROSEN has passed away at 75.  The NEW YORK TIMES reports that ROSEN died FRIDAY in PARK RIDGE, NJ.

ROSEN, a drummer, was keyboardist DAVE GRUSIN's partner in production before the pair launched GRP in 1978 under the ARISTA RECORDS umbrella.  The label, which split from ARISTA in 1982 to become independent, became distributed by MCA in 1987, and was sold to MCA MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (now UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP) in 1990, was a leader in what became known as "Smooth Jazz," with artists like SPYRO GYRA, CHICK COREA, THE YELLOWJACKETS, PATTI AUSTIN, and many others.  GRP was also a pioneer in digital recording, including the first non-classical digitally recorded album, GRUSIN's "MOUNTAIN DANCE," in 1979.

After leaving GRP in 1995, GRUSIN and ROSEN launched N2K ENCODED MUSIC, a label and early music website including the MUSIC BOULEVARD online music store which merged into CD NOW in 1999.  More recently, ROSEN produced RAMSEY LEWIS' PBS series in 2006 and launched the JAZZ ROOTS concert series.

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