View source for Mo Ostin

{{Short description|American record executive (1927–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Mo Ostin
| image         =
| caption       =
| nickname      =
| birth_name    = Morris Meyer Ostrofsky
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1927|3|27}}
| birth_place   = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2022|7|31|1927|3|27}}
| death_place   =[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], [[United States]]
| alma_mater    = [[UCLA]]
| occupation    = Record producer
| known_for     =
| awards        =
| spouse        = {{Marriage|Evelyn Ostin||2005|end=died}}
| children      = {{Flatlist|
* Michael
* Kenny
* Randy
}}
| parents       =
| partner       =
| family        =
}}

'''Mo Ostin''' (born '''Morris Meyer Ostrofsky'''; March 27, 1927 – July 31, 2022) was an American [[record executive]].  The chairman and CEO of [[Warner Records|Warner Bros. Records]] from 1972 to 1994 and co-founder of [[DreamWorks Records]], he was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2003. 

==Early life==
Ostin was born Morris Meyer Ostrofsky<ref>{{Cite web|title= Mo Ostin Record company executive  |publisher=[[Encyclopedia.com]]|date=2004 |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ostin-mo  }}</ref> in [[New York City]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|first=Robert |last=Hilburn |title= 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. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date= December 11, 1994|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-11-ca-10574-story.html }}</ref> on March 27, 1927.<ref name="Guardian obit">{{cite news|title=Mo Ostin, US record exec who signed Jimi Hendrix and the Kinks, dies aged 95|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/02/mo-ostin-us-record-exec-who-signed-jimi-hendrix-and-the-kinks-dies-aged-95|first=Laura|last=Snapes|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref><ref name="LAT obit">{{cite news|title=Mo Ostin, executive who transformed Warner Bros. into revered record label, dies at 95|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-08-01/mo-ostin-warner-bros-sinatra-hendrix-prince-dies|first=Melissa|last=Gomez|date=August 1, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>  His family was [[American Jews|Jewish]]<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Andy |last1= Gensler|first2=Shirley |last2=Halperin |title= Houses of the Holy: Where the Music Biz Celebrates the Jewish High Holidays |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 23, 2014 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6259228/where-music-biz-celebrates-jewish-high-holidays }}</ref> and fled Russia during the [[Russian Revolution]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="LAT obit"/>  They eventually relocated to [[Los Angeles]] when Ostin was thirteen and operated a small grocery market close to [[the Fairfax Theatre]].<ref name="LAT obit"/>  He attended [[Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)|Fairfax High School]], before studying economics at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA).<ref name="auto"/>  He subsequently commenced studies at the [[UCLA School of Law]], but ultimately [[Dropping out|dropped out]] to support his family.<ref name="LAT obit"/>

==Career==
Ostin began his career in the mid-1950s as [[comptroller]] at [[Clef Records]], a record company started by [[Norman Granz]], brother of friend and neighbor, Irving Granz.<ref name="auto"/>  The company was soon renamed 'Verve', where he was involved with Jazz At The Philharmonic, a worldwide concert promotion operation that provided a live performance platform for the label's touring stars.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice|last=Hershorn|first=Tad|publisher=University of California Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-520-26782-4}}</ref> [[Frank Sinatra]] tried and failed to buy Verve, which was eventually sold to [[MGM Records]].  Sinatra was reportedly so impressed by the company's artists and the management's style that he formed his own Reprise Records in 1960 and hired Ostin to head it.  Three years later, Reprise joined forces with Warner Bros.<ref name="LAT obit"/><ref name=R&RHF/> The first rock act Ostin signed to Reprise was [[the Kinks]].  He signed [[Jimi Hendrix]] in the spring of 1967 based on hearing "Hey Joe", then was amazed after seeing him perform at the [[Monterey Pop Festival]].<ref name="auto"/>

Ostin ultimately spent 31 years at Warner/Reprise from 1963 to 1994,<ref name="LAT obit"/><ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Mo Ostin, longtime Warner records chairman, dies at 95|url=https://apnews.com/article/chris-rock-entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-obituaries-2682cccec531b932c0d38a74e303ed73|first=Hillel|last=Italie|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|work=Associated Press}}</ref> serving as its chairman and CEO from 1972 onwards.<ref name="Guardian obit"/>  He oversaw the signing of [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Neil Young]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[R.E.M.]], [[Madonna]], [[Paul Simon]], [[Talking Heads]], the [[Grateful Dead]], the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Van Halen]], [[the Who]], and [[Randy Newman]].<ref name="Guardian obit"/><ref name="LAT obit"/>  He was noted for giving artists creative freedom and creating a company geared towards artists, attributing this outlook to his time with Sinatra.<ref name=AP/><ref name="LAT obit"/>  Ostin later recounted how he trusted Prince to the point where he would only listen to his music once it was completed.<ref name="LAT obit"/>  Ostin was also instrumental in the acquisition of the independent Elektra label by [[Warner Communications]], as well as the subsequent formation of WEA Corporation and WEA International.<ref name=Newman>{{cite news|title=Mo Ostin, Legendary Warner Bros. Records Chief, Dies at 95|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/mo-ostin-warner-bros-records-chief-dead-95/|first=Melinda|last=Newman|date=August 1, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>  Recognized as an industry titan, he served as chairman of the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for a two-year term.  He left Warner acrimoniously in 1994 after they requested that he slash his payroll, turning down their offer of a three-year extension.  He described the situation as "the toughest thing I've ever been through in the business", adding that "it shook [him] to the core".<ref name="LAT obit"/>

After departing Warner Bros., Ostin went on to join the music division of the entertainment conglomerate [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks SKG]] in October 1995.<ref name="LAT obit"/><ref name=AP/>  In 2003, Ostin was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] by [[Paul Simon]], [[Neil Young]], and [[Lorne Michaels]].<ref name=R&RHF>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/mo-ostin|title=Mo Ostin &#124; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|website=Rockhall.com|accessdate=July 14, 2017}}</ref>  Three years later, he received The Recording Academy President's Merit Award at the 2006 [[Grammy]] Salute to Industry Icons.<ref name=MoOstin51>{{cite web|title=Mo Ostin '51|url=https://alumni.ucla.edu/awards/mo-ostin-51/#:~:text=Ostin%20was%20inducted%20into%20the,Lifetime%20Achievement%20Award%20in%202017.|website=alumni.ucla.edu|date=April 1, 2019|accessdate=April 14, 2022}}</ref>

[[George Harrison]] wrote the song "Mo" as a tribute to Ostin.

===Philanthropy===
A graduate of UCLA, Ostin and his wife Evelyn donated $10 million and played a critical role in establishing the university's [[UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music#Facilities|Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center]], a state-of-the-art campus music facility.<ref name=Boehm>{{cite news|title=Record executive Mo Ostin gives $10 million to UCLA for new music center|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/culture-monster-blog/story/2011-05-04/record-executive-mo-ostin-gives-10-million-to-ucla-for-new-music-center|first=Mike|last=Boehm|date=May 4, 2011|access-date=August 5, 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name="UCLA obit">{{cite news|title=In memoriam: Alumnus Mo Ostin, 95, music industry legend and philanthropist|url=https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/in-memoriam-mo-ostin-music-industry-legend-and-philanthropist|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|publisher=University of California, Los Angeles}}</ref>  In March 2015, Ostin donated $10 million to UCLA for the [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball#Mo Ostin Basketball Center|Mo Ostin Basketball Center]], a state-of-the-art training facility, which was opened in October 2017 and named in his honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uclabasketballfacility.com/|title=The Mo Ostin Basketball Center|website=uclabasketballfacility.com}}</ref><ref name="UCLA obit"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=209504571|title=UCLA Athletics Announces Plans for New Basketball Practice Facility|publisher=UCLABruins.com|date=May 22, 2014|accessdate=June 7, 2017}}</ref>
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 School of the Arts and Architecture#Institutions|UCLA Center for the Art of Performance]].<ref name=MoOstin51/>

==Personal life==
Ostin was married to Evelyn for 55 years until her death in 2005.<ref name="Guardian obit"/><ref name=AP/>  Together, they had three children, Randy, Kenny, and Michael Ostin.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Mike |last=Barnes |title= Music Exec Randy Ostin Dies at 60  |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= September 1, 2013|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-exec-randy-ostin-dies-619062 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title= Randall Alan Ostin Obituary |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date= September 1, 2013 |url= https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=randall-alan-ostin&pid=166698243 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Vincent |last=Canby |title= Film: A Documentary, Diane Keaton'S 'Heaven'  |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 17, 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/17/movies/film-a-documentary-diane-keaton-s-heaven.html  |quote=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.}}</ref>  All three worked as Warner executives.<ref name=AP/>  Both Kenny and Randy predeceased him in 2004 and 2013, respectively.<ref name="LAT obit"/><ref name=AP/>

Ostin died in his sleep on July 31, 2022, at the age of 95.<ref name=Newman/><ref name ="variety obit>[https://variety.com/2022/music/news/mo-ostin-dead-warner-bros-records-chief-1235330951/ Chris Morris, "Mo Ostin, longtime Warner Bros. Records chief, dies at 95", ''Variety'', August 1, 2022]. Retrieved August 2, 2022</ref> From 1987 until his death, Ostin was the owner of the modernist [[Wave House]] in [[Malibu, California]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Kelly |title=California home thought to have inspired Sydney Opera House sells for US$20m less than asking price |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/03/california-wave-house-sydney-opera-house-sale-harry-gesner-jorn-utzon |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=25 March 2025 |date=3 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="latimes.com">Jack Flemming (1 June 2023), [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-01/the-wave-house-harry-gesners-malibu-masterpiece-lists-for-49-5-million The ‘Wave House,’ Harry Gesner’s Malibu masterpiece, lists for $49.5 million] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref>

==References== 
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/mo-ostin/ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Fame: Mo Ostin]
* {{discogs artist|Mo Ostin}}
* {{imdb name|0652426}}

{{2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ostin, Mo}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]]