Background
Matassa was born in New Orleans in 1926.
record producer audio engineer
Matassa was born in New Orleans in 1926.
Tulane University.
In 1944 he began studies as a chemistry major at Tulane University which he abandoned after completing five semesters of course work. At the age of 18 in 1945, Matassa opened the J&M Recording Studio at the back of his family’s shop on Rampart Street on the outskirts of the French Quarter of New Orleans. In 1955, he moved to the larger Cosimo Recording Studio on Government.
Nichols Saint nearby in the French Quarter.
As an engineer and proprietor, Matassa was crucial to the development of the Rhythm & Blues, rock and soul sound of the 1950s and 1960s (often working with producers Dave Bartholomew and Allen Toussaint), and recorded many hits - including Fats Domino’s "The Fat Manitoba" (a contender for the first rock and roll record), Little Richard"s "Tutti Frutti", and records by Ray Charles, Lee Dorsey, Doctor 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, heavy piano, light horn sound and a strong vocal lead.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Matassa also managed the successful white New Orleans rock and roll performer Jimmy Clanton. Matassa retired from the music business in the 1980s to manage the family"s food store Matassa"s Market in the French Quarter.
He died on September 11, 2014, aged 88, in New Orleans.
In December 1999, J&M Recording Studio was designated as a historic landmark.