Prominent jazz record producer Larry Rosen, co-founder of GRP label, dies at 75

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Jazz producer Larry Rosen, who co-founded GRP Records with pianist Dave Grusin, has died at age 75.

His publicist says Rosen, a Bronx native, died Friday at his home in Park Ridge, New Jersey, after battling brain cancer.

Against the advice of financial advisers and lawyers, Rosen and Grusin mortgaged their homes to borrow money to launch GRP as an independent label in 1982.

GRP was voted Billboard’s No. 1 contemporary jazz label for five consecutive years and won 33 Grammys. Its catalogue included albums by Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Diana Krall, Diane Schuur, Patti Austin, Dr. John and Ramsey Lewis.

GRP was the first record label to use digital recording technology for all its releases and issue every release on the new CD format.

Rosen and Grusin sold GRP to MCA Records in a multimillion-dollar deal. Rosen remained as president and CEO of the label until 1995.

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