BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Description: American entrepreneur, producer, musician, and recording engineer
Known For: Newport Youth Band
Instruments: Drums
Music Styles: Jazz
Location: NY, United States of America
Date Born: 25th May 1940
Location Born: The Bronx, New York, United States of America
CONTACT DETAILS
Web Site:
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YOUTUBE VIDEO
BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Larry Rosen (producer)
Rosen began his musical career as a drummer with the Newport Youth Band and met future partner Dave Grusin while working with singer Andy Williams and attending the Manhattan School of Music.
Later in 1972, Grusin and Rosen produced vocalist Jon Lucien for RCA Records and went on to form Grusin/Rosen Productions, which later discovered and developed new artists including Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh, Noel Pointer and others.
After producing a number of projects independently, Grusin/Rosen Productions signed a long-term contract with Arista Records president Clive Davis to develop new talent in 1978.
The new Arista/GRP label subsequently produced artists including Dave Valentin, Angela Bofill, Bernard Wright, and Tom Browne, whose hit single “Funkin’ For Jamaica” reached number one on Billboard’s R&B and Jazz charts. In an effort to advance new digital recording technology, Rosen engineered and co-produced the Dave Grusin album Mountain Dance, the first digitally recorded non-classical album in 1979.
After the conclusion of the Artist/GRP relationship, GRP Records, Inc. was founded in 1982 and quickly adopted an “all digital” approach releasing all titles on compact disc. Under Rosen’s leadership, GRP helped launch CDs in America and 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, Tom Scott, Gary Burton, B.B. King, Ramsey Lewis, Sergio Salvatore, Dave Valentin, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets, Don Grusin, Kevin Eubanks and the GRP All-Star Big Band.
By 1990, Rosen and Grusin sold GRP Records to the Universal Music Group with Rosen remaining as President & CEO of the label. As part of the larger merged company, Rosen launched the CD reissue series for Impulse, Chess, and Decca Records, and helped shape Universal’s international business development. GRP was recognized on October 17, 1992 by Billboard Magazine with an extensive feature commemorating its 10th Anniversary.
After leaving GRP in 1995, Rosen went on to co-found one of the first Internet e-commerce and content companies, N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ), in 1997. Serving as its Chairman and CEO Rosen lead 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 for 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.[4] At the height of the Internet business in 1999, Mr. Rosen formed the plan to merge N2K Inc. with one of its top rivals, CDNow Inc., and appeared on the cover of Forbes Magazine as an Internet Icon.[6] In 1998 Mr. Rosen received Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in New Media and Entertainment.
Rosen is the chairman of Larry Rosen Productions, where he is the creator and producer of the critically acclaimed[8] PBS television HD series LEGENDS OF JAZZ with pianist Ramsey Lewis. Additionally, he is the creator and Producer of 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 created for performing arts centers. JAZZ ROOTS found its first home at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Florida, opened in Dallas, Texas (AT&T Performing Arts Center) as well as the Carmel, Indiana Performing Arts Center in 2010.
Artists presented include Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, John McLaughlin, Patti Austin, Count Basie Orchestra, Ramsey Lewis, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Valentin, Nestor Torres, The Machito Orchestra, Eliane Elias, Ivan Lins, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau, Jon Hendricks, Dave Grusin, Jon Secada, Eddie Palmieri and Michel Camilo. The JAZZ ROOTS series is represented by IMG Artists. As a companion to the series, Rosen is the host of the locally presented NPR radio series “Jazz Roots.”