AP Photo/Matt Sayles
Pierre Cossette arrives at "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live" in Los Angeles on Wednesday Dec. 3, 2008
Pierre Cossette
Producer of the Grammy Awards, dies at 85
TORONTO (Associated Press) - Pierre Cossette, who founded the modern Grammy Awards and produced the globally televised music awards ceremony for 35 years, died of congestive heart failure at a Montreal hospital. He was 85.
The Canadian producer's death was announced late Friday in Santa Monica, Calif., by the Recording Academy.
Cossette, a native of Valleyfield, Quebec, was an accomplished television and theater producer, but he is best known for guiding the Grammy Awards from its early days as a stuffy, unsuccessful production to the industry institution it has become.
In its early years, the Grammy show was an hourlong compilation of recorded performances, and it was not a commercial success. When the production rights became available in 1971, Cossette already had a successful career in the music business as a producer and manager.
He had the ambitious idea to turn the show into a grand musical showcase full of live performances, but he had difficulty selling networks on his vision. Executives were particularly skeptical that there was an audience for a performance-based TV show. But Cossette - nicknamed "Showbiz" - persevered.
The Grammy Museum, which opened in December 2008, is called the Pierre Cossette Center and contains a corner exhibit dedicated to him.
Cossette produced the Grammy Awards until 2005, when his son took over the job for Cossette Productions.
Pierre Cossette
December 15, 1923 - September 11, 2009
Memory Book
“ I had the privilege of working with Mr. Cossette at the 1990 Grammy Awards. I was chosen as the Grammy Girl that year and was so proud to be a part...Read More » ”
Posted by: Jen Charette
