Don Kirshner Dies: Producer Of Rock Concert, The Monkees Dies

by NowPublic Staff | January 18, 2011 at 09:51 am

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The Man With The Golder Ear; Rock Music Legend Don Kirshner, Dies

Pop music maven and producer, Don Kirshner has died. Don Kirshner died of heart failure in Boca Raton, Florida. Don Kirshner was 77.

From helping to launch the career of 1950s pop star Bobby Darin, to writing hits for Neil Sedaka, The Monkees, and Carole King, Don Kirshner penned enduring pop hits.

He co-founded the music publishing company Aldon Music, which operated out of New York's famous Brill Building, and managed the careers of songwriters Neil Sedaka and Carole King.

Among Don Kirshner's writing credits are such hits as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," and "I'm A Believer."

Don Kirshner, the producer thrived most at the intersection between Television and Music - first with The Monkees TV show, and later with the animated show "The Archies."

During the 1970s Don Kirshner's "In Concert" was a mainstay of ABC Television - featuring some of the biggest names in Rock music and later Kirshner had his own syndicated show called "Rock Concert."

Kirshner is survived by Sheila, his wife of 50 years, children Ricky and Daryn and his grandchildren Alexandra, Shelby, Jillian, Matthew and Jaden.

Services for Kirshner are being arranged in Florida. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Don Kirshner Scholarship Fund, which is being established by his family for emerging songwriters (70 West 36 Street, Suite 701, NY NY 10018 - 212.239.0777).