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Don Kirshner
Photo: Rogers, Cowan & Brenner, Beverly Hills-publicity, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons19

Don Kirshner

American songwriter, publisher, music producer, manager (1934–2011)

Donald Kirshner (April 17, 1934 – January 17, 2011) was an American music publisher, music consultant, rock music producer, talent manager, and songwriter. Dubbed "the Man with the Golden Ear" by Time, he was best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups including the Monkees, Kansas, and the Archies.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Don Kirshner (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Apr 17, 1934, died Jan 17, 2011.1

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedUpsala College3
  • Date not recordedGeorge Washington Educational Campus3

Don Kirshner was born to a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York, the son of Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor, and Belle Jaffe. He graduated from George Washington High School in Washington Heights, Manhattan and studied at Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey. After graduation he went to work for Vanderbilt Music, a small music publishing company owned by former Tin Pan Alley lyricist Al Lewis. Kirshner introduced Lewis to Sylvester Bradford, an African American songwriter. Lewis and Bradford wrote "Tears on My Pillow", which was a big hit for Little Anthony and the Imperials in 1958.

From Wikipedia’s article on Don Kirshner (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: talent manager, composer, songwriter, record producer.8

  • Date not recordedFounded Calendar4
  • Date not recordedFounded Aldon Music5
  • Date not recordedFounded Dimension6
  • Date not recordedFounded Kirshner7

Kirshner received the 2007 Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Publishing Award. He was a creative consultant for Rockrena, a company founded by Jack Wishna, and launched in 2011 to promote new music talent online. He died of heart failure in a Boca Raton, Florida hospital on January 17, 2011 at age 76, survived by his wife of 50 years, Sheila; his son, Ricky Kirshner; daughter, Daryn Lewis; and five grandchildren.

On April 14, 2012, Kirshner was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

From Wikipedia’s article on Don Kirshner (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornApr 17, 1934, New York City9
  • DiedJan 17, 2011, Boca Raton10
  • CitizenshipUnited States11
  • Children212

Awards

  • 2012Rock and Roll Hall of Fame13

Sources

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