Friday, September 12, 2014

Cosimo Matassa, RIP

Cosimo with Jimmy Clanton, 1958
Sad news unfortunately run on.. Cosimo Matassa, the legendary New Orleans recording studio owner,
engineer and rock 'n' roll pioneer has died yesterday at the age of 88. A true unsung legend, Cosimo was responsible for virtually every single R&B record in New Orleans for almost three decades and it isn't far from the truth to say that without him city's R&B wouldn't have been the same!
At his J&M studios, engineered inter alios Fats Domino, Little Richard, Smiley Lewis, Loyd Price, Guitar Slim, Professor Longhair, Earl King and Art Neville! In 1955 he moved to the bigger Cosimo Recording Studio, where acquainted Alain Toussaint and Lee Dorsey. At Toussaint's (now washed up by Katrina hurricane) studios, Sea-Saint, recorded artists such Paul McCartney, The Neville Brothers and Dr. John during the 70s. I'm sure with a little google search from your side, you're gonna know why Cosimo even at this age, was a huge loss for Rock & Roll...

Wreck-ommended listening:  The Cosimo Matassa Story (Proper Box 129) 4-CD set / 2007
and the brand new one from Ace: Cracking The Cosimo Code: 60s New Orleans R&B And Soul




2 comments:

  1. Very sad news, about Cosimo works, check http://cosimocode.com/ a goldmine site curated by Red Kelly.

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  2. Sad news indeed. Recently bought the boxset for $4 AUD at my local library, perfect condition, just perfect!

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