Cosimo Matassa

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Cosimo Matassa (born 13 April 1926 in New Orleans^[1]^[2]) is an Italian-American recording engineer and studio owner responsible for many R&B and early rock and roll recordings.

At the age of 18, Matassa opened the J&M Recording Studio at the back of his family’s shop on Rampart Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1945.^[1] In 1955, he moved to the larger Cosimo Recording Studio.^[1]

As an engineer and proprietor, he was crucial to the development of the R&B, rock and soul sound of the 1950s and '60s, and (often working with producer Allen Toussaint) recorded many hits - including Fats Domino’s "The Fat Man" (a contender for the first rock and roll record), Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti", and records by Ray Charles, Lee Dorsey, Dr John and many others. He was responsible for developing what became known as the "New Orleans Sound", with strong drums, heavy guitar and bass, light piano, light horn sound and a strong vocal lead.

He retired from the music business in the 1980s to manage the family's renowned food store Matassa's Market in the French Quarter.^[3]

In December of 1999, J&M Recording Studio was designated as a historic landmark.^[4] In October of 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame honored Cosimo Matassa for his contributions to Louisiana music by inducting him into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.