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.

Biography Career Cuscuna played drums, saxophone and flute while young, but placed his emphasis on founding his own record label. 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. He moved from WXPN to WMMR in 1970, then onto WABC-FM (now WPLJ) as a progressive rock DJ at both stations. He took a position as a producer with Atlantic Records in the 1970s, recording Dave Brubeck and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In the early 1970s, he also produced albums by Bonnie Raitt (Give It Up) and Chris Smither. He also worked at Motown, ABC (for reissues of Impulse! albums), Arista, Muse, Freedom, Elektra and Novus.[ Michael Cuscuna] at AllMusic

In 1975 Cuscuna produced the Hidden Strength self-titled album.Billboard, October 4, 1975 - Page 31 Studio Track By BOB KIRSCH It made it to No. 45 on the Cash Box Top 50 R&B Albums chart,Cash Box, March 27, 1976 - Page 116 cash box R&B news report, TOP 50 R&B/ALBUMS, 45, HIDDEN STRENGTH UA LA 555G, 46Cash Box, April 3, 1976 - Page 49 TOP 50 R&B/ALBUMS, 45 HIDDEN STRENGTH UA LA 555G and No. 58 on the Billboard Soul LPs chart the following year.Billboard, May 29, 1976 - Page 59 Billboard Soul LPs, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 5/29/76, This Week 58 NEW ENTRY, HIDDEN STRENGTH United Artists UALA555 GBillboard, June 5, 1976 - Page 33 Billboard Soul LPs, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 6/5/76, This Week 58, Last Week, 58, Weeks on Chart 2 HIDDEN STRENGTH United Artists UA-LA555-GBillboard, June 12, 1976 - Page 55 Billboard Soul LPs, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 6/12/76 The single from the album, "Hustle on Up (Do the Bump)" also was a hit, peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart,.Billboard, May 8, 1976 - Page 62 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 35, Last Week 40, Weeks on Chart 11, HUSTLE ON UP (Do The Bump) - Hidden Strength (T. Moss, M. Brown, R. Herring, G. Underwood), United Artists 733 (Dandelion, BMI)Billboard, May 22, 1976 - Page 44 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 35, Last Week 35, Weeks on Chart 12 HUSTLE ON UP (Do The Bump) - Hidden Strength (T. Moss, M. Brown, R. Herring, G. Underwood), United Artists 733 (Dandelion, BMI)Billboard, May 22, 1976 - Page 50 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 36, Last Week 35, Weeks on Chart 13 HUSTLE ON UP (Do The Bump) - Hidden Strength (T. Moss, M. Brown, R. Herring, G. Underwood), United Artists 733 (Dandelion, BMI) and No. 27 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B singles chart.Cash Box, June 5, 1976 - Page 32 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B June 5, 1976 27 HUSTLE ON UP (DO THE BUMP) HIDDEN STRENGTH UA XW733Y, 5/29 30, Weeks On Chart 14

From 1975 to 1981, he searched the Blue Note archive for previously unissued sessions which began to be issued during this period.[ Michael Cuscuna] at AllMusic

In collaboration with business partner Charlie Lourie, he founded Mosaic Records in 1983 specializing in jazz reissue box sets sold by mail order. 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. Cuscuna won three Grammy Awards for his releases. From 1984 onwards, he handled all reissues for Blue Note records.

Personal life Cuscuna was born on September 20, 1948, in Stamford, Connecticut.

Cuscuna died of complications from esophageal cancer at his home in Stamford on April 20, 2024, at the age of 75.

Grammy Awards 1993: Best Historical Album for Nat King Cole, The Complete Capitol Trio Recordings 1999: Best Album Notes for Miles Davis, Miles Davis Quintet 1965–1968 (with Bob Belden and Todd Coolman) 2002: Best Historical Album for Billie Holiday, Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 (with Michael Brooks)

Publications Syoichi Yui; Michael Cuscuna (1987). Blue Note Jazz Story (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shinchosha.

References

External links