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 (often working with producers Dave Bartholomew and Allen Toussaint), and 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, Smiley Lewis, Bobby Mitchell, Tommy Ridgley, the Spiders 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 1999, J&M Recording Studio was designated as a historic landmark.[4] In October 2007, Matassa was honored for his contributions to Louisiana music with induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
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CD 1 1. Little Mr Midnight - Got a Brand New Baby (2:20)
2. Little Mr Midnight - Four O'Clock Blues (2:43)
3. Smiley Lewis - Don't Jive Me (2:22)
4. Dave Bartholomew - Tra-La-La (2:31)
5. Dave Bartholomew - Teejim (2:37)
6. James Wayne - Agreeable Woman (2:32)
7. James Wayne - Two Faced Woman (2:52)
8. Roy "Baldhead" Byrd - Rockin' with Fes (2:03)
9. Dave Bartholomew - Stormy Weather (2:53)
10. Dave Bartholomew - My Ding-A-Ling (2:15)
11. Fats Domino - Reeling and Rocking (2:20)
12. Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy (2:32)
13. Lloyd Price - Chee Koo Baby (2:12)
14. Shirley & Lee - Sweethearts (2:30)
15. Shirley & Lee - I'm Gone (2:20)
16. The Royal Kings - Teachin' and Preachin' (2:02)
17. The Royal Kings - Bouncin' the Boogie (1:59)
18. Sha-Weez - Early Sunday Morning (2:22)
19. Dave Bartholomew - Who Drank My Beer While I Was in the Rear (2:50)
20. Dave Bartholomew - Country Gal (2:26)
21. Shirley & Lee - Baby (2:23)
22. Clarence Garlow - New Bon Ton Roulay (2:55)
23. T-Bone Walker - Got No Use for You (2:40)
24. T-Bone Walker - Long Distance Blues (3:03)
25. Fat Man Matthews - I'm Thankful (2:26)
26. Fats Domino - Little School Girl (2:39)
27. Hawks - I-Yi (2:39)
28. Hawks-Candy Girl
29. Lowell Fulson-Don't Leave Me Baby
30. Guitar Slim-The Things That I Used to Do
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CD 2 1. Guitar Slim - Well, I Done Got Over It (2:29)
2. Professor Longhair - Tipitina (2:39)
3. Slim Saunders - Let's Have Some Fun (Honey) (2:16)
4. Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters - Jock-A-Mo (2:26)
5. The Spiders - I Didn't Want to Do It (2:42)
6. The Spiders - You're the One (1:58)
7. Smiley Lewis - Blue Monday (2:43)
8. Bobby Mitchell & the Toppers - Baby's Gone (2:07)
9. Bobby Mitchell & the Toppers - Sister Lucy (2:28)
10. Kings - 'Til I Say Well Done (2:05)
11. Pee Wee Crayton - Every Dog Has His Day (2:22)
12. Collins, Dave & The Scrubs - Bluesy Me (2:34)
13. Hawks - Give It Up (2:08)
14. Hawks - Nobody But You (2:21)
15. The Spiders - 21 (3x7=21) (2:20)
16. The Spiders - That's Enough (2:16)
17. Fats & Dave - Jump Children (2:24)
18. Fats & Dave - Cat Music (2:03)
19. Kidds - Drunk Drunk Drunk (2:39)
20. Pelicans - Ain't Gonna Do It (2:27)
21. The Bees - I Want to Be Loved (2:43)
22. The Bees - Toy Bell (2:22)
23. Pee Wee Crayton - You Know Yeah (2:34)
24. Pee Wee Crayton - Runnin' Wild (2:29)
25. Hawks - It's Too Late Now (2:09)
26. Smiley Lewis - Real Gone Lover (2:33)
27. Boo Breeding - Low and Lonesome (2:54)
28. 28-Boo Breeding-Country Woman
29. Willie Johnson-Say Baby
30. Willie Johnson-That Night
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CD 3 1. Little Leo - What's It All About (2:46)
2. Little Leo - Handwriting on the Wall (2:35)
3. Hawketts - Mardi Gras Mambo (2:13)
4. Hawketts - Your Time's Up (2:35)
5. The Barons - Eternally Yours (2:18)
6. The Barons - Boom Boom (2:20)
7. Shirley & Lee - Feel So Good (2:50)
8. Smiley Lewis - I Hear You Knocking (2:45)
9. Willie "Wee Willie" Wayne - Travelin' Mood (2:29)
10. Willie "Wee Willie" Wayne - I Remember (2:12)
11. Little Bo - Baby (2:45)
12. Little Bo - So Glad (2:33)
13. Bernie Williams - Why Fool Yourself (2:41)
14. Little Richard - I'm Just a Lonely Guy (2:38)
15. Little Richard - Tutti Frutti (2:23)
16. Ernest Kador - Do Baby Do (2:10)
17. Big Boy Myles & the Sha-Weez - Who's Been Fooling You? (1:51)
18. Big Boy Myles & the Sha-Weez - That Girl I Married (2:09)
19. Li'l Millett & His Creoles - Rich Woman (2:38)
20. Fats Domino - I'm in Love Again (1:56)
21. Bobby Charles - On Bended Knee (2:14)
22. Bobby Charles - See You Later, Alligator (2:50)
23. Williams, Charles "Hungry" - So Glad You're Mine (2:13)
24. Fats Domino - My Blue Heaven (2:07)
25. Bobby Mitchell - Try Rock 'N' Roll (2:07)
26. Bobby Mitchell - No No No (1:56)
27. Little Richard - Long Tall Sally (2:08)
28. Richard Wayne Penniman-Slippin' and Slidin'
29. Eddie Bo-I'm Wise (Slippin' and Slidin')
30. Bobby Charles-Take It Easy, Greasy
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CD 41. Little Richard - Rip It Up (2:20)
2. Little Richard - Ready Teddy (2:08)
3. Shirley & Lee - Let the Good Times Roll (2:23)
4. Huey "Piano"& His Rhythm Aces Smith - Everybody's Whalin' (2:42)
5. Huey "Piano"& His Rhythm Aces Smith - Little Liza Jane (2:10)
6. The Dukes - Teardrop Eyes (2:42)
7. The Dukes - Cotton Picking Hands (2:37)
8. Lloyd Price - Rock 'N' Roll Dance (2:17)
9. Little Richard - The Girl Can't Help It (2:32)
10. Little Richard - Heebie Jeebies (2:15)
11. Fats Domino - Don't Blame It on Me (2:40)
12. Jimmy Beasley - Don't Feel Sorry for Me (2:14)
13. Jimmy Beasley - Little Coquette (2:13)
14. Smiley Lewis - Down Yonder (We Go Ballin') (2:58)
15. Smiley Lewis - Shame Shame Shame (1:58)
16. Roy Montrell - Oooh-Wow (2:30)
17. Roy Montrell - (Everytime I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone (2:24)
18. Lee Allen - Rockin' at Cosimo's (2:50)
19. Edgar Blanchard - Stepping High (1:53)
20. Shirley & Lee - I Feel Good (2:18)
21. Werly Fairburn - I'm a Fool About Your Love (2:11)
22. Werly Fairburn - All the Time (2:25)
23. Clarence "Frogman" Henry - I'm a Country Boy (1:54)
24. Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home (2:22)
25. Big Boy Myles & the Sha-Weez - Hickory Dickory Dock (1:48)
26. Big Boy Myles & the Sha-Weez - Just to Hold My Hand (2:11)
27. Art Neville - Oooh-Wee Baby (2:11)
28. Art Neville-Back Home to Me
29. Earl King-You Can Fly High
30. Earl King-Those Lonely, Lonely Feelings
Cosimo_Matassa_Story.rar
