SANTA MONICA, CA. (Recording Academy) - The Recording Academy announced today that
Pierre Cossette, executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards, will produce his 35th consecutive GRAMMY Awards telecast on Feb. 13, 2005, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. This will mark the final time that he actively produces the highly rated music awards event.
Future GRAMMY Awards shows will continue to be produced by Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette for Cossette Productions, and both will serve as executive producers.
The 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards airs live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
"Pierre and his team have helped to create the most dynamic live music awards show on television, and he was instrumental in placing the GRAMMY Awards on network TV years ago," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow.
"For 35 years now, Pierre has been music to our ears and his passion for live music and dedication to extraordinary production values have made the GRAMMYs the top-rated and most respected music telecast. He leaves a lasting legacy, and will always be the Academy's dear friend. We look forward to our future work with Ken and John as together we continue to make 'GRAMMY Sunday' the most esteemed, successful, and important music event of the year."
"When I first began producing the GRAMMYs 35 years ago, I doubt anyone could have imagined it would become the staple of television it has turned into," said Pierre Cossette. "I know of no more capable producers in the business than John and Ken, and I am confident that they will continue the tradition of quality in helping bring the music world's most talented names to a huge international audience."
Pierre Cossette first began producing the GRAMMY telecast in 1971, which was the first nationally televised live GRAMMY ceremony. The show aired on ABC for the first three years and will air for the 32nd consecutive year on CBS in 2005.
Cossette, while cutting back as active producer of the GRAMMYs, will continue his successful career as a Broadway producer. He produced the six-time Tony winner "The Will Rogers Follies," "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Tommy Tune Tonite," and is developing a musical inspired by the life of Woody Guthrie. Cossette's past television series include "The Andy Williams Show," "The Sammy Davis Jr. Show," "The Glen Campbell Show" and "ShaNaNa." His book, Another Day In Showbiz , already has gone into a second printing, and he presently is working on a sequel.
"Producing the GRAMMY Awards for the past 25 years with Pierre has been one of the joys of my life, and carrying on the tradition of making each show memorable and different is something I am truly looking forward to," said Ehrlich.
"Pierre has always set a high standard for the show and, working with Academy President Neil Portnow, I have no doubt that we will continue to keep the GRAMMYs the preeminent music award show on television."
"I have always looked at the GRAMMY Awards as the family business," said John Cossette. "I think I can safely say that I am the only one actively involved with the show who has been around since day one at the Hollywood Palladium. I am honored to be asked to continue on with Ken and, with the Academy's guidance, we hope to keep the show's tradition of excellence alive while at the same time taking the telecast to the next level."
Ehrlich has produced the GRAMMY Awards since 1980, and is one of television's most notable producers of music-related programming. In addition to producing music specials with artists ranging from Elton John, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Simon and Garfunkel, and Christina Aguilera, he is responsible for the creation of both the MTV Movie Awards and the annual VH1 "Divas" specials. His recent credits include the Ray Charles tribute and the 5th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards (both for CBS), "Fashion Rocks" (FOX), and music specials with Shania Twain and Prince.
After a varied career in the entertainment industry as a lighting designer, talent agent, and line producer on various series and specials, among other things, John Cossette joined Cossette Productions and his relationship with the GRAMMYs began. Since 1992, he has served as Supervising Producer on the GRAMMY Awards. He also has served as Executive Producer of the last three Latin GRAMMY Awards broadcasts.
In 2000, he began a highly successful relationship with BET which includes the BET Awards, the BET Comedy Awards, and the BET Walk of Fame tribute specials. These annual specials are the network's top three rated shows, and in 2002 he won a NAACP Image Award for his production of "The BET Walk Of Fame: A Tribute To Stevie Wonder."
Cossette Productions also produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.
