Three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz producer Michael Cuscuna has passed away at the age of 75. Cuscuna passed away at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, on Saturday due to complications from cancer. His passing was confirmed on Monday by Blue Note Records, where he worked on numerous reissues and studio sessions.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Cuscuna, a co-founder of Mosaic Records, produced hundreds of jazz reissues and studio sessions. Notably, he produced Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Junior Mance’s 1970 album “Buddy & the Juniors” for Vanguard Records, as well as Bonnie Raitt’s 1972 gold album “Give It Up” during her time at Warner Bros. Cuscuna’s work extended to producing reissues and studio sessions for a wide range of labels including Impulse, Atlantic, Arista, Muse, Elektra, Freedom, Novus, and almost the entire Blue Note catalog.
Blue Note Records executives expressed their profound gratitude for Cuscuna’s contributions, stating on Instagram, “Plainly stated, Blue Note Records would not exist as it does today without the passion & dedication of Michael Cuscuna.”
Throughout his career, Cuscuna received nine Grammy nominations and was honored with three awards in 1993, 1999, and 2002 for his exceptional production work on box sets showcasing the music of Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, and Billie Holiday.
