Cory Rooney

By Dania McQuay

May 31 2000

Who is Cory Rooney? Only music insiders seem to know the answer to that question, but the buzz around the recording studio will soon be ringing in the ears of mainstream America. The music industry's best kept secret may be more business than show, but in the wake of today's dissatisfaction with over-hyped producers, Cory Rooney proves business before ego is the best policy.

One of the music industries "native sons," his parents -- Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid -- were members of the'60s group The Exciters. However, Cory's musical DNA was only one part of a very talented equation. Raised in Jamaica, Queens in New York, his love for hip-hop was reinforced at an early age due to the geographic proximity of rap all-stars like Marley Marl, LL Cool J, and Run-DMC.

Cory's star began to rise at Uptown Records in the late 1980s, while writing and producing hits like "Real Love" and "Sweet Thing" by Mary J. Blige and "I'll Do 4 U" by Father MC. The success of these uptown anthems caught the attention of Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola in 1989. In 1994, Sony solidified its relationship with Cory by offering him a permanent position, and six years later, with the title Executive Producer etched on his bio, he is responsible for some of the hottest albums on the charts. Cory is listed as Executive Producer on Marc Anthony's album I Need to Know and Jennifer Lopez's album On the 6. He has also produced several smash singles for Mariah Carey, including, "Fantasy," "Dream Lover" and "Butterfly." He has collaborated with Jessica Simpson, Brian McNight, Mandy Moore, Aretha Franklin, R. Kelly, Nas, and Blaque.

Cory knows how to take music from different genres and make them accessible to the masses. His vision has guided movie soundtracks ranging from the Nutty Professor to Men in Black and Runaway Bride.

Cory is a consummate producer and businessman, with unquestionable sagacity about things artistic and realistic.