LOS ANGELES – John Cossette, the longtime executive producer of the Grammy Awards, died April 26 at age 54. The son of Pierre Cossette, the founding producer for the Grammy telecast who died in 2009 at age 85, John Cossette had led the Grammy Awards broadcasts for 18 years. This year's show, broadcast live on CBS Feb. 13, 2011, was the 53rd annual production. "On behalf of everyone at CBS, our thoughts and prayers go out to John's wife Rita, daughters, Maria and Rose and the entire Cossette family," said Jack Sussman, EVP specials, music and live events. "I was fortunate to work with him for several years and call him a friend. Having taken over for his father, who created the Grammys, he will forever be connected to the television event he worked so hard to make Music's Biggest Night."
Cossette had also served as consulting producer of the Latin Grammys. His firm, Cossette Productions, had also produced several awards shows for cable network BET, including the BET Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards. Cossette's other production credits include the musical, Million Dollar Quartet, now on Broadway, and on corporate productions, including concert events held during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Cossette's charitable work included benefits for the NARAS Foundation and the Recording Academy's MusiCares charitable arm, the Society of Singers, the House Ear Institute and the Concern Foundation for Cancer Research.
