Michael Cuscuna

Michael Cuscuna
Cuscuna in 1995
Background information
Born	(1948-09-20)September 20, 1948 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	April 20, 2024(2024-04-20) (aged 75) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Record producer
Labels	ESP-Disk Atlantic Motown ABC Mosaic

Michael Cuscuna (September 20, 1948 – April 20, 2024) was an American jazz record producer and writer. He was the co-founder of Mosaic Records and a discographer of Blue Note Records.^[1]

Biography

Career

Cuscuna played drums, saxophone and flute while young, but placed his emphasis on founding his own record label.^[2] He had a jazz show on WXPN and worked for ESP-Disk late in the 1960s, in addition to writing for Jazz & Pop Magazine and Down Beat.^[2] He moved from WXPN to WMMR in 1970, then onto WABC-FM (now WPLJ) as a progressive rock DJ at both stations.^[2] He took a position as a producer with Atlantic Records in the 1970s, recording Dave Brubeck and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.^[2] In the early 1970s, he also produced albums by Bonnie Raitt (Give It Up)^[2] and Chris Smither. He also worked at Motown, ABC (for reissues of Impulse! albums), Arista, Muse, Freedom, Elektra and Novus. From 1975 to 1981, he searched the Blue Note archive for previously unissued sessions which began to be issued during this period.^[3]

In collaboration with business partner Charlie Lourie, he founded Mosaic Records in 1983 specializing in jazz reissue box sets sold by mail order.^[4][2] Artists surveyed include highly visible masters like Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Nat "King" Cole, and lesser known artists such as Tina Brooks and Ike Quebec.^[2] Cuscuna won three Grammy Awards for his releases.^[5] From 1984 onwards, he handled all reissues for Blue Note records.^[6]

Personal life

Cuscuna was born on September 20, 1948, in Stamford, Connecticut.^[2][3]

Cuscuna died of complications from esophageal cancer at his home in Stamford on April 20, 2024, at the age of 75.^[7][8][1]

Grammy Awards

• 1993: Best Historical Album for Nat King Cole, The Complete Capitol Trio Recordings^[5]
• 1998: Best Album Notes for Miles Davis, Miles Davis Quintet, 1965–68: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (with Bob Belden and Todd Coolman)^[5]
• 2002: Best Historical Album for Billie Holiday, Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933–1944) (with Michael Brooks)^[5]

References

1. Russonello, Giovanni (April 25, 2024). "Michael Cuscuna, Who Unearthed Hidden Jazz Gems, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 109/110. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
3. Michael Cuscuna at AllMusic
4. Ratliff, Ben (January 4, 2001). "Charlie Lourie, 60, a Founder of Mosaic, a Distinctive Jazz Reissue Label". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
5. "Michael Cuscuna". Grammy. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
6. Serinus, Jason Victor (May 2, 2008). "A Visit to RTI & Acoustech". Stereophile. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
7. "Michael Cuscuna, record producer who made jazz reissues both an art and a science, has died at 75". WRTI. April 21, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
8. Fremer, Michael (April 20, 2024). "Michael Cuscuna, Jazz Producer, Record Label Founder, Blue Note Discogropher Dies at 75". Tracking Angle. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.

External links

• Michael Cuscuna discography at Discogs
• Michael Cuscuna at IMDb