Joel Moss, Grammy-Winning producer, dies at 79

Joel Moss

Joel Moss, one of the most respected sound engineers and producers in the recording industry, has died. He was 79.

Joe Moss passed away on Sept. 15 in Saratoga Springs, New York, following an aortic dissection, his daughter Rachael Moss confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. His family remembered him as “the biggest mensch in the recording industry who created the best sounds in town.”

A Career Across Film, Music, and Broadway

Over six decades, Joel left an indelible mark on music and film. His engineering work shaped the soundtracks of Hollywood staples like A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle, Footloose, Dead Poets Society, City Slickers, and Sister Act. Earlier projects included Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Mosquito Coast.

But Joel’s career wasn’t limited to film. He worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Cissy Houston, the Eagles, Little Richard, Talking Heads, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In fact, his groundbreaking work on the Talking Heads’ 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense made him the first audio engineer to transfer analog recordings to 24-track digital.

Grammy Success and Broadway Legacy

Joel’s talents extended to Broadway, where he produced and engineered cast recordings for Hair, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical—which won him a Grammy—and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. In total, he received 11 Grammy nominations and took home seven trophies.

Born in Detroit on May 11, 1946, Joel started young as part of a Hebrew folk quintet, The Hi-Liters. By 15, he was already working in studios, tinkering with soundboards for garage bands. That early passion never faded. In recent years, Joel devoted his time to Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, where he supported local artists as a writer, sound designer, and archivist.

Also read: Jon Stewart to host 'Daily Show' tonight after ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live!

He is survived by his wife, Terri-Lynn Pellegri, daughter Rachael, grandchildren Zuzu and Griffin, brother Gary, sister Karen, and a large extended family.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Caffe Lena, with a livestream available through the venue’s official page.