Grammy-winning music producer Joel Moss has died at the age of 79, his family confirmed.
The producer known for collaborating with artists such as Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers has passed away in Saratoga Springs, New York, on Tuesday.
Throughout his diverse career, Joel secured seven Grammy Awards, ranging from recording Ray Charles’s “You Don’t Know Me” album to producing the Broadway cast recording of Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights.”
He is survived by his wife Terri-Lynn Pellegri, daughter Rachael, and his grandchildren Zuzu Booth and Griffin Booth.
His daughter Rachael said that Joel died after suffering an aortic dissection – where a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body’s main artery.
His family shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “Joel was revered and cherished by many, earning the title of ‘the top mensch in the recording world who crafted the finest sounds around.'”
Grammy-winning music producer Joel Moss died on Tuesday at the age of 79, his family confirmed
The producer, who worked with the likes of Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett and Red Hot Chili Peppers, passed away on Tuesday in Saratoga Springs, New York
Joel’s passing was announced by his sister, Karen Moss Hale, on Facebook. She wrote: “Tragically, my brother Joel passed away this evening. I’m in shock and struggling to comprehend this—Joel was our pride and joy!”
‘Loved by everyone…. Please keep his wife TL and his daughter Rachael and his grandkids, Zuzu and Griff in your prayers.’
Hours before, Karen had asked for prayers as she shared that Joel had been rushed to hospital due to the medical emergency.
She continued, “Pray for my brother, Joel, who is being rushed to Albany hospital for emergency surgery due to a torn aneurysm on his main artery.” She asked people to contact her for updates, as his daughter Rachael was keeping her updated.
Caffe Lena, a folk music venue in New York where Joel frequently worked, paid their respects, stating: “With a heavy heart, we announce the loss of Joel Moss.”
‘It never failed to amaze us that a man who produced records for Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett, The Talking Heads, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and hundreds of others, believed so much in the community of Saratoga Springs and the value of Caffe Lena, that he spent his evenings running our livestream cameras and recording our shows.
‘He was passionately committed to recording every show that happened at Caffe Lena because he felt that Lena’s stage is a national treasure and what happens on it is important. You never know when you’ll capture lightning in a bottle.
He is survived by his wife Terri-Lynn Pellegri (Pictured), daughter Rachael, and his grandchildren Zuzu Booth and Griffin Booth
Joel’s sister Karen Moss Hale took to Facebook to announce his death, writing: ‘Sadly – my brother Joel died this evening’
Hours before, Karen had asked for prayers as she shared that Joel had been rushed to hospital due to the medical emergency
‘When he saw that special spark in an artist, he told everyone–whether the artist was 10 years old, was playing their first show, or was an under-appreciated treasure who had put in decades on the road.
‘Joel’s presence and faith elevated the Caffe in the eyes of many, and we are forever richer because of our time with him. We send condolences to his family (he loved you so much and talked about you all the time), innumerable friends, and all the local musicians who had the opportunity to work with him in the studio.
‘He wrote the song in this video and put in countless hours bringing this video to life to raise money for Caffe Lena’s renovation back in 2017. In his memory, we share it again: “Where The Music Never Dies,” by Joel Moss – 1946-2025.’
Musician Brian Melick, a friend of Joel’s, wrote: ‘I lost a very dear friend last night.
‘Crushed on so many levels and BLESSED beyond words. So very very sorry to hear this news. My Heart and Prayers are with you Karen Moss Hale, Terri-Lynn Pellegri, Joel’s daughter Rachel and Grandchildren Griff, Zuzu and his entire family. May God Bless and Keep you all.
Joel won seven Grammy Awards during his wide-ranging career, including recording Ray Charles’s (Pictured) album You Don’t Know Me
Caffe Lena, a New York folk music venue where Joel often worked, paid tribute, writing: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the death of Joel Moss’
‘Joel, I’m incredibly grateful to have had you in my life and honored to have become good friends. The world is a lot darker and colder today, but your warm loving beautiful spirit will be with us for the rest of our days. Your ripples will last for eternity because of everything you represented and how it all affected us deeply.
‘Blessed to have been in the music with you more times then I can count, and thank you for a truly remarkable inspiring legacy of work. But most of all Joel, for all of our incredible conversations about life and family.
‘Whether it was on the street, in the studio or over lunch you had a beautiful way of making anyone visiting with you feel like they were the most important person in the world.
‘Give Charlie a hug for us. Love you my friend.’
