Pierre Cossette

Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour Archive interview, Pierre Cossette (1923-2009) talks about his early career as an agent at MCA, where he quickly gained a reputation for booking clients at colleges across the country. He describes his relationship with agency head Lew Wasserman and shares how Wasserman assigned him to booking clubs in Las Vegas. He speaks about starting his own record label with Lou Adler (and others) called Dunhill records and talks of independently representing musical talents, like Ann-Margret and Jose Feliciano, and booking them on The Andy Williams Show. He outlines his long association as executive-producer of The Grammys from 1971-2005. Cossette relates behind-the-scenes stories about the show, including when host Kenny Rogers came down with laryngitis, his early difficulties booking Billy Joel, and his objection to opening one of The Grammys shows with Alicia Keys. He defines his philosophy of producing and what abilities made him a successful producer. Bonnie Datt conducted the interview on June 4, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

"A successful television producer needs to learn what the word 'tenacity' means, and stick with that word, and repeat that word to yourself every day. Tenacity. Be tenacious." 

Interviewee(s)
Pierre Cossette
Highlights
Pierre Cossette on getting Billy Joel on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on musicians who were not well liked at The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on dealing with Standards and Practices with The Grammys and how the show has changed over the years
Pierre Cossette on singing live vs. lip-synching on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on starting Dunhill Records in 1965
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television
On the first music shows he produced; on becoming an agent at MCA; on booking acts for Las Vegas
On dealing with casinos in Las Vegas while being an agent at MCA; on founding Dunhill Records
On his first television special as a producer; on producing television specials for Jose Felicano and Dionne Warwick

Chapter 2
On what made him a successful television producer; on producing The Grammys; on producing The Grammys from Nashville
On his favorite Grammys moments; on singing live vs. lip synching on The Grammys; on working with Ken Ehrlich on The Grammys
On musicians who were not well liked at The Grammys; on dealing with the network and NARAS on The Grammys; on his Grammys production team; on dealing with Standards and Practices with The Grammys
On producing Sha Na Na; on his producing style

Chapter 3
On getting Billy Joel on The Grammys; on how appearing on The Grammys helps artists; on the demographics of The Grammys
On advice to an aspiring producer; on his proudest career achievements and regrets; on his autobiography and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Grammys, The

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Pierre Cossette on producing The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on his producing partner Burt Sugarman and The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on convincing producers to do The Grammys from Nashville
Pierre Cossette on his favorite Grammy moments
Pierre Cossette on singing live vs. lip-synching on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on working with the performers at The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on working with Ken Ehrlich on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on musicians who were not well liked at The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on dealing with the network and NARAS on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on making The Grammys successful from a technical standpoint and his production team
Pierre Cossette on dealing with Standards and Practices with The Grammys and how the show has changed over the years
Pierre Cossette on getting Billy Joel on The Grammys
Pierre Cossette on how appearing on The Grammys helps artists
Pierre Cossette on the demographics of The Grammys

Sha Na Na

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Pierre Cossette on producing Sha Na Na
Topics

Advice

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Pierre Cossette on advice to an aspiring producer

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Pierre Cossette on dealing with Standards and Practices with The Grammys  and how the show has changed over the years

First Big Break

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Pierre Cossette on the first music shows he produced

Pivotal Career Moments

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Pierre Cossette on the first music shows he produced

Television Industry

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Pierre Cossette on dealing with Standards and Practices with The Grammys  and how the show has changed over the years
Pierre Cossette on advice to an aspiring producer
Professions

Producers

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Pierre Cossette on what made him a successful television special producer
Pierre Cossette on his producing style
Pierre Cossette on advice to an aspiring producer
Genres

Awards Shows

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Pierre Cossette on producing The Grammys  (Part 1)
Pierre Cossette on producing The Grammys (Part 2)

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Pierre Cossette on producing television specials for Dionne Warwick and Jose Feliciano
People

Anna Maria Alberghetti

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Pierre Cossette on his first show as a television producer

Burt Bacharach

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Pierre Cossette on producing television specials for Dionne Warwick and Jose Feliciano

Ken Ehrlich

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Pierre Cossette on working with Ken Ehrlich

Billy Joel

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Pierre Cossette on getting Billy Joel on The Grammys

Burt Sugarman

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Pierre Cossette on his partner Burt Sugarman and The Grammys

Dionne Warwick

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Pierre Cossette on producing television specials for Dionne Warwick and Jose Feliciano

Lew Wasserman

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Pierre Cossette on becoming an agent at MCA
Pierre Cossette on booking acts for Las Vegas

Andy Williams

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Pierre Cossette on using television to publicize the acts on Dunhill Records
Pierre Cossette on producing The Grammys

All Interviews

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