Jerry Moss, who with the trumpeter Herb Alpert founded A&M Records, which at its peak from the 1960s to the ’80s was an independent powerhouse behind hits by the Carpenters, the Police, Janet Jackson, Peter Frampton, and Mr. Alpert’s group, the Tijuana Brass, among many others. He died at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles at age 88.

Built from humble beginnings in Mr. Alpert’s garage, A&M became a major force in pop music. In 1989, they sold A&M’s recorded music business to PolyGram for a reported $500 million. In 2000, they sold Rondor, their music publishing catalog, to Universal Music for an estimated $400 million.

In his later years, Mr. Moss had notable success owning racehorses. Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby in 2005, at extraordinary odds.