Grammy-Winning Producer Joel Moss Dies at 79 from Aortic Dissection

Joel Moss, a seven-time Grammy-winning producer, engineer, and mixer, died at age 79 in Saratoga Springs, New York, from an aortic dissection. Over a career spanning six decades, he worked with legendary artists such as Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Talking Heads, and contributed to numerous notable film scores including Pretty in Pink, Footloose, Chicago, and A Few Good Men. Moss was also recognized for his work on Broadway cast recordings like Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He was known not only for his technical skills but also for his humility and dedication to community, especially through his longtime association with the Saratoga Springs folk venue Caffe Lena. Moss's family described him as "the biggest mensch in the recording industry who created the best sounds in town," highlighting his respected status in the music world. He is survived by his wife Terri-Lynn Pellegri, daughter Rachael, and grandchildren Zuzu and Griffin Booth.