Jerry Moss, who with Herb Alpert created A&M Records and turned it into one of the most successful independent labels in music history, died on August 16, 2023, at his home in Bel Air, California. He was 88 years old.
His wife, Tina Moss, confirmed his death and said the cause was natural causes. In a statement, his family said: “He was a rare and extraordinary human being who touched countless lives with his kindness, generosity, humor, and wisdom. He was always curious, adventurous, and ready for the next challenge. He loved music and he loved us.”
Contents
A Music Pioneer
Moss was born on May 8, 1935, in New York City. He graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in English and served in the United States Army for six months. He started his music career by promoting “16 Candles”, a 1958 hit for the Crests on Coed Records. He moved to Los Angeles in 1960, where he met and befriended Alpert, a trumpeter, songwriter, and entrepreneur.
In 1962, they launched Carnival Records with an investment of $100 each and ran the company from an office in Alpert’s garage. They soon realized the name was already taken and renamed their label A&M Records, using their initials. Their first big hit was Alpert’s instrumental “The Lonely Bull”, which sold over 350,000 copies.

For over two decades, Alpert and Moss ran one of the industry’s most successful independent labels, producing such blockbuster albums as Alpert’s “Whipped Cream & Other Delights”, Carole King’s “Tapestry” and Peter Frampton’s “Frampton Comes Alive!” They signed artists from diverse genres and gave them creative freedom and support. They worked with the Carpenters and Cat Stevens, Janet Jackson and Soundgarden, Joe Cocker and Suzanne Vega, the Go-Gos, and Sheryl Crow. Among the label’s singles: Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey”, the Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together”, Frampton’s “Show Me the Way” and “Every Breath You Take”, by the Police.
Name | Jerry Moss |
---|---|
Birth Date | May 8, 1935 |
Birth Place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Death Date | August 16, 2023 |
Death Place | Bel Air, California, U.S. |
Cause of Death | Natural causes |
Education | Brooklyn College (BA) |
Occupation | Record company executive, racehorse owner/breeder |
Known For | Co-founding A&M Records with Herb Alpert; owning champion horses such as Giacomo and Zenyatta |
Honors | Grammy Trustees Award (1997); Hollywood Walk of Fame (1999); Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2006); Big Sport of Turfdom Award (2009) |
Moss had a sharp eye for talent and a visionary approach to music. He also had a flair for marketing and promotion, creating memorable campaigns and events for his artists. He was known for his integrity, generosity, and passion for music.
“We were always amazed by the quality of the music that came through our label,” Moss told Artist House Music, an archive and resource center, in 2007. “We felt very lucky to be part of this incredible journey.”
Moss and Alpert sold A&M Records to PolyGram Records for a reported $500 million in 1989. They continued to manage the label until 1993 when they left because of frustrations with PolyGram’s constant pressure to fit into its corporate culture. In 1998, they sued PolyGram for breach of the integrity clause, eventually settling for an additional $200 million payment.
Moss and Alpert then expanded their Almo Sounds music publishing company to produce records as well, using it as a vehicle for Alpert’s music. Almo Sounds imitated the former company culture embraced by Alpert and Moss when they first started A&M.
Moss and Alpert were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 in the non-performer category. They were also honored with a Grammy Trustees Award in 1997 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
“Our goal was to make great records,” Moss said in an interview with The New York Times in 2010. “We did whatever it took to make our releases the most amazing.”
A Horse Racing Fanatic
Moss was also a longtime horse breeder and owner who achieved remarkable success in horse racing. His music connections led him to invest in horses after being convinced by record manufacturer Nate Duroff in 1972.

Moss owned several champion horses with his first wife, Ann Holbrook Moss, who died in 2013. They named their horses after A&M artists or albums. Their most famous horses were Giacomo, named after Sting’s son, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2005; Zenyatta, named after the Police album Zenyatta Mondatta, who was Horse of the Year in 2010; and Set Them Free, named after a Sting song, who won several stakes races.
Moss was appointed to the California Horse Racing Board in 2004, replacing longtime television producer Alan Landsburg. He was also awarded the Big Sport of Turfdom Award in 2009 for his contributions to horse racing.
“We wanted people to enjoy themselves,” Moss said of his horse racing philosophy in an interview with The Blood-Horse in 2010. “You can’t force people to do a certain kind of racing. They make their best racing when they are doing what they want to do, not what we want them to do.”
A Loving Husband and Father
Moss married Tina Morse, a former model, and actress, in 2019, after dating since 2016. They lived in Bel Air, California, and Maui, Hawaii. Tina Moss said her husband was a wonderful partner who always made her laugh and feel loved. She said
He was the most amazing man I ever met. He was so kind, so generous, so smart, so funny, so adventurous. He was always ready for the next thing. He loved life and he loved me.
Moss is survived by his wife, his four children — Ron, Jennifer, Harrison, and Daniela — five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
FAQs
Who was Jerry Moss?
Jerry Moss was an American recording executive who co-founded A&M Records with Herb Alpert and turned it into one of the most successful independent labels in music history.
How did Jerry Moss die?
Jerry Moss died of natural causes on August 16, 2023, at his home in Bel Air, California. He was 88 years old.
What was Jerry Moss’s net worth?
Jerry Moss’s net worth was estimated at $800 million by Forbes in 2015.
What were some of the artists that Jerry Moss signed or worked with?
Some of the artists that Jerry Moss signed or worked with include Herb Alpert, the Police, the Carpenters, Carole King, Peter Frampton, Cat Stevens, Janet Jackson, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Suzanne Vega, the Go-Gos and Sheryl Crow.
What were some of the horses that Jerry Moss owned or bred?
Some of the horses that Jerry Moss owned or bred include Giacomo, Zenyatta, Set Them Free, Tiago, Madeo, and Gormley.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLXKopqepJWXwG%2BvzqZmo52ip8Zuuc6sqmankp7Btq3RsmY%3D