Department Chair and Grammy®-winning producer John Snyder brings a wealth of industry knowledge, business experience, and vision to FAMIS. As a jazz producer, John has produced over three hundred original recordings since his start in 1977; to date, thirty-four (34) have been nominated for Grammy® awards and five (5) have won. His label clients include A&M, Atlantic, Fantasy, MusicMasters, Concord, RCA, Sony, Antilles, Verve, Private Music, Telarc, GRP, Elektra, Rounder, Columbia, Evidence, and Justin Time.
As an attorney and member of the New York Bar Association, John’s unique combined knowledge of both the legal and technical aspects of music production has enabled him to serve in executive positions throughout the industry. He served as the assistant to president Creed Taylor of CTI Records, where he oversaw all legal and business affairs, publishing, manufacturing, distribution, and A&R operations. Later, John served as director of the Horizon Jazz Series for A&M Records under Herb Alpert, and as director of jazz production for Atlantic Records, where he supervised production, packaging, promotion, publicity, and marketing.
In 2002, John founded the Artists House Foundation, an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to helping musicians and music entrepreneurs create sustainable careers. The foundation has produced immeasurable amounts of video and educational content since its inception; its Jazz Master Class series has been broadcast on both New York and New Orleans public access educational television. Since 2007, the Artists House website has received over ten million views, while the organization’s YouTube channel has hundreds of thousands of views.
A true visionary and entrepreneur, John later launched a national initiative called Athletes and the Arts, bringing together arts, educational, and sports medical associations. Athletes and the Arts seeks to provide musicians resources for the unique healthcare and wellness needs that accompany live performance. In 2013, John presented the initiative to both the American College of Sports Medicine and the Performing Arts Medical Association.
John joined Loyola’s College of Music and Fine Arts faculty in 2004, and was selected as the Conrad Hilton Eminent Scholar in Music Industry Studies. As a former member of the New York Chapter of the the Recording Academy, he has served on its Board of Governors, Education Committee, and Grammy in the Schools Committee.