Joel Moss, Grammy Winner and Caffe Lena Fixture, Dies at 79
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Joel Moss, a six-time Grammy Award winner who served as Caffe Lena’s broadcast and sound technician, passed away last week at the age of 79.
“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,” the famed folk venue said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Moss had a long and illustrious career in the music world, recording albums for artists such as Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Little Richard, and Joe Cocker. For his efforts, he was awarded multiple Grammys, an Academy Award, and two Emmy nominations. His life and career began in Detroit, where he led a Hebrew folk quintet called The Hi-Liters that played at Lena in 1963. In the Saratoga area, he recorded and produced several albums for charity, including “A Saratoga Christmas Wish,” which raised $70,000 for Make-A-Wish Northeast New York.
To honor Moss’ remarkable legacy, Lena will host “Where the Music Never Dies: A Celebration of Joel Moss” on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The public is invited to gather at Trask Memorial Staircase at the south end of Congress Park at 4:30 p.m. A parade led by New Orleans musician Glen David Andrews will take off at 5 p.m. and attendees will clap, dance, and sing their way to Caffe Lena.
Music and speakers will start at the Caffe, both indoors and out, at 5:30 and end at 9. There will be an outdoor video screen to share what’s happening inside, and the whole event will be livestreamed on YouTube and Caffe Lena TV.