Larry Rosen: musician, producer, executive producer, and music industry entrepreneur. Mr. Rosen is the Chairman of Larry Rosen Productions, Inc., creator and producer of JAZZ ROOTS - A Larry Rosen Jazz Series, co-founder of GRP Records, co-founder of LRSmedia, and co-founder and past Chairman of N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ). Mr. Rosen is the creator and producer of the PBS television series LEGENDS OF JAZZ, and is the creator and producer of multi-media TV series RECORDING: the History of Recorded Music, with hosts Quincy Jones and Phil Ramone.
JAZZ ROOTS - A Larry Rosen Jazz Series is a concert and educational program created for performing arts centers across America. The ongoing JAZZ ROOTS series was first launched in 2008 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Subsequently, the series debuted in 2009 in Dallas at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and will launch at the new Carmel, Indiana Center for the Performing Arts in 2010, with additional PACs to be announced. 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, Michel Camilo and many more. The JAZZ ROOTS series includes educational and outreach programs that organically connect to local community groups, art centers, and the local board of education. Mr. Rosen is the host of the award winning locally presented NPR radio series titled JAZZ ROOTS.
Mr. Rosen is the producer/executive producer of over 350 albums, of which 80 have been nominated for GRAMMY Awards, winning 33 GRAMMYS, as well as numerous award winning film/video productions and television specials. Mr. Rosen and multi-GRAMMY and Academy Award winning pianist/composer Dave Grusin co-founded GRP Records, the award winning contemporary jazz label featuring major artists, Chick Corea, Diana Krall, Patti Austin, BB King, Dave Grusin, Ramsey Lewis, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Kevin Eubanks, BB King, Spyro Gyra, Lee Ritenour, Gary Burton, Dave Valentin, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal, Sergio Salvatore, Larry Carlton, David Benoit, Tom Scott, Gerry Mulligan, The GRP All-Star Big Band, Yellowjackets, Rippingtons, among others. GRP Records, known as "The Digital Master Company" was the first non-classical company in America to release CDs, and was instrumental in the launching of the CD format.
Mr. Rosen is the chairman of Larry Rosen Productions, where he is the creator and producer of the PBS television HD series LEGENDS OF JAZZ with Ramsey Lewis, and is currently producing a 7 part television series titled RECORDING: The History of Recorded Music, with hosts Quincy Jones and Phil Ramone, scheduled to air in the fall of 2011.
N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ), one of the Internet's premier e-commerce and content companies, was co-founded by Mr. Rosen in 1996. Mr. Rosen served as Chairman and CEO leading the company to its initial public offering in the fall of 1997. N2K, Inc. brands included music superstore Music Boulevard and its genre-based community sites Rocktropolis, Jazz Central Station, Classical Insites, and artist sites for Leonard Bernstein, Miles Davis, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and more, all part of the Music Boulevard Network. The company was the first to distribute music via digital downloads and lead the way for music into the 21st Century. Mr. Rosen architected the plan to merge N2K Inc. and CDNow Inc., the two top Internet music e-commerce companies, completing the merger in March 1999 valuing the combined entity at over $500 million.
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. In 1972, the duo produced vocalist Jon Lucien for RCA Records and went on to form Grusin/Rosen productions, which discovered and produced new recording artists including Earl Klugh, Noel Pointer, Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, and others. In 1978, Grusin/Rosen Productions signed a long-term contract with Arista Records president Clive Davis to develop new talent for the Arista/GRP label, including Dave Valentin, Angela Bofill, Bernard Wright, and Tom Browne. In 1979, Rosen engineered and co-produced the Dave Grusin album "Mountain Dance," the first digitally recorded non-classical album.
Mr. Rosen received Ernst & Young's prestigious "Entrepreneur of the Year" award in New Media & Entertainment; Forbes magazine named Rosen an "Internet Icon" in the cover story entitled "Masters of the New Universe." Mr. Rosen served as a member of The Board of Governors of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and served on The Grammy Screening Committee. He received the NARAS Governor's Award and was inducted into the A&R/Producers Honor Roll. Mr. Rosen serves on the boards of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), the Music for Youth Foundation (MYF), the Music Educators National Council (MENC), The Brubeck Institute, UM Frost School of Music Deans Visiting Committee, and along with Mr. Grusin, Mr. Rosen co-founded the National Foundation for Jazz Education (NFJE), a philanthropic group which helps young jazz musicians.
