John Cossette, Longtime Grammy Awards Producer, Passes
In addition to his long association with the Grammys and other live events, Cossette produced the Broadway hit Million Dollar Quartet.
John Cossette, a producer of Broadway musicals and live events who shared a long association with the Grammy Awards telecast through his father, the late Pierre Cossette, died April 26, 2011. He was 54.
According to news reports, no information regarding the cause or place of Cossette’s death was provided by his family.
Cossette served as executive producer of several Grammy Awards, along with the BET Hip Hop Awards and BET Honors, as well as Latin Grammy Award ceremonies.
In addition, Cossette produced the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, which is currently running at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City. The production chronicles the Memphis recording origins of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
John Cossette’s father, Pierre Cossette, was known as the “father of the Grammy Awards telecast” as a result of his successful efforts to bring the music awards show to broadcast television. The elder Cossette, who died in 2009 at age 85, served as executive producer of the Grammys telecast for more than 30 years.
Father and son worked together for many years, and John Cossette remained with the Grammy after his father’s passing.
John Cossette is survived by his wife, two daughters and other extended family members.