Mo Ostin
Mo Ostin | |
---|---|
Born | Morris Meyer Ostrofsky March 27, 1927 UCLA |
Occupation | Record producer |
Spouse |
Evelyn Ostin (died 2005) |
Children |
|
Mo Ostin (born Morris Meyer Ostrofsky; March 27, 1927 – July 31, 2022) was an American
Early life
Ostin was born Morris Meyer Ostrofsky[2] in New York City[3] on March 27, 1927.[4][5] His family was Jewish[6] and fled Russia during the Russian Revolution.[3][5] They eventually relocated to Los Angeles when Ostin was thirteen and operated a small grocery market close to the Fairfax Theatre.[5] He attended Fairfax High School, before studying economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[3] He subsequently commenced studies at the UCLA School of Law, but ultimately dropped out to support his family.[5]
Career
Ostin began his career in the mid-1950s as
Ostin ultimately spent 31 years at Warner/Reprise from 1963 to 1994,
After departing Warner Bros., Ostin went on to join the music division of the entertainment conglomerate DreamWorks SKG in October 1995.
Philanthropy
A graduate of UCLA, Ostin and his wife Evelyn donated $10 million and played a critical role in establishing the university's Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center, a state-of-the-art campus music facility.[12][13] In March 2015, Ostin donated $10 million to UCLA for the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, a state-of-the-art training facility, which was opened in October 2017 and named in his honor.[14][13][15] He also sat on the board of visitors for the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and supported the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance.[11]
Personal life and death
Ostin was married to Evelyn for 55 years until her death in 2005.[4][9] Together, they had three children, Randy, Kenny, and Michael Ostin.[16][17][18] All three worked as Warner executives.[9] Both Kenny and Randy predeceased him in 2004 and 2013, respectively.[5][9]
Ostin died in his sleep on July 31, 2022, at the age of 95.[10][19]
References
- ^ Joanna Rubiner. "Mo Ostin Biography". musicianguide.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "Mo Ostin Record company executive". Encyclopedia.com. 2004.
- ^ a b c d e Hilburn, Robert (December 11, 1994). "Quotations From Chairman Mo : Mo Ostin lets his artists to do the talking about him and his whole career.Now the record-biz legend steps out of the shadows and takes us on a tour from Ol' Blue Eyes to Red Hot Chili Peppers". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b c d Snapes, Laura (August 2, 2022). "Mo Ostin, US record exec who signed Jimi Hendrix and the Kinks, dies aged 95". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Gomez, Melissa (August 1, 2022). "Mo Ostin, executive who transformed Warner Bros. into revered record label, dies at 95". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Gensler, Andy; Halperin, Shirley (September 23, 2014). "Houses of the Holy: Where the Music Biz Celebrates the Jewish High Holidays". Billboard.
- ISBN 978-0-520-26782-4.
- ^ a b "Mo Ostin | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Italie, Hillel (August 2, 2022). "Mo Ostin, longtime Warner records chairman, dies at 95". Associated Press. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Newman, Melinda (August 1, 2022). "Mo Ostin, Legendary Warner Bros. Records Chief, Dies at 95". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Mo Ostin '51". alumni.ucla.edu. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (May 4, 2011). "Record executive Mo Ostin gives $10 million to UCLA for new music center". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "In memoriam: Alumnus Mo Ostin, 95, music industry legend and philanthropist". University of California, Los Angeles. August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "The Mo Ostin Basketball Center". uclabasketballfacility.com.
- ^ "UCLA Athletics Announces Plans for New Basketball Practice Facility". UCLABruins.com. May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (September 1, 2013). "Music Exec Randy Ostin Dies at 60". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Randall Alan Ostin Obituary". Los Angeles Times. September 1, 2013.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (April 17, 1987). "Film: A Documentary, Diane Keaton'S 'Heaven'". The New York Times.
Mr. King is the only so-called celebrity in the film, if you don't count the celebrity of Victoria Sellers, the daughter of Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland, and of her boyfriend, Kenny Ostin, the son of Mo Ostin, the head of Warner Brothers Records.
- ^ Chris Morris, "Mo Ostin, longtime Warner Bros. Records chief, dies at 95", Variety, August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022
External links
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Fame: Mo Ostin
- Mo Ostin discography at Discogs
- Mo Ostin at IMDb