Don Kirshner, Songwriter and Monkees Musical Director, Dead at 76

RIP Don thanks for the great memories and music you helped share for the world to hear

Bobguy the Beatles put out records in 1962 as the Beatles with a single in the United States on Atco records with a rocked out version of the old 1920's hit song "Ain't She Sweet". That single failed and Brian Epstein then had their original compostions placed with an English teen idol named Billy J. Kramer and another band. Both acts had hit songs with those Lennon-McCartney songs and John and Paul in 1962 were getting real good royality money, so much that John bought a new sports car and Paul a house for his Dad. The money they made also allowed them not to have day jobs and they starting jamming at the Cavern Club in Liverpool all night with their new found financial freedom. The English music industy in London wanted them just to be writers claiming John was too old and ugly to be a teen rock star, even though they did offer Paul a contract as a solo singer, singing their compostions. Paul refused that offer and Brian still went to record companies to get the Beatles a record contract. No one would take them on except a quirky music producer George Martin, who mainly did comedy and classical music recordings, but liked the "boys" and took them on in 1963 as an experimental reoording project. In 1963 When "Please PLease Me" broke into the English top ten George told them to write more stuff and they wrote "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You", recorded the songs and went back to the Cavern club to jam and wait to see what the record would do. Jack Paar, the original "Tonight Show Host, (just after Steve Allen) was in England in 1963 when he heard about this popular band in Liverpool and went to the club to check them out. He told others back home about what he had found and Ed Sullivan made a trip out there to check them out and signed them up to do his show in early 1964. That is when the Bealtes, as recording artists, became a world famous band. The rest is history.

one of the best producers ever

This is to correct a major error in your article. Don Kirshner was NOT a songwriter. He was a song publisher.

A behind the scenes pop culture Icon. I've watched Monkee reruns since I was a kid (now I have the dvds), and I've always been fascinated by the backstory of this goup. Love or hate Kirshner, he was a fascinating, dynamic svengali. RIP Don

Thanks man- your music and the bands you helped made my growing up in a difficult time much sweeter and easier to bear. I took the Last Train To Clarksville a long time ago, and you were an unseen but very real part of what helped a generation get thru troubled times. May God bless and keep you... The music in Heaven surely has become more interesting!

Don Kirshner was a GREAT man. Every week he would bring live performances of the best musical acts into our houses in the 70's no lip sync, no B.S.!!!! He was the real deal, mono tone voice and all. He will forever be one of my heroes, and the man who influenced me in many ways, specifically responsible for inspiring me to do the T.V. show "Rockin' in a Hard Place" (a live performance Rock & Roll show in the 80's shot out in L.A., it featured some of the greatest up and coming bands of that period, including, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Pearl Jam, Faith No More, Guns & Roses, etc...) I never would have done it if it was not for the great childhood memories of his show. Don Kirshner you will forever be "the Man"!!! May you Rock in Peace...

Wasn't there Don Kirschner's Midnight Special, which came on either after SNL or after Johnny Carson on Friday night (before Letterman started on Late Night)?

I also remember on SNL, Paul Schaffer used to play a Mafia type, always plotting to take over the operations of Don Kirschner and Don Cornelius. This was back after The Godfather and The Godfather, Part 2 came out, with Marlon Brando playing Don Vito Corlione and Al Pacino as Don Michael Corlione.

How exciting was it to know your favorite band was going to be on Don Kirshner's, the wait was almost too much. Boy do I miss those days, it is just not the same these days for todays kids in my opinion.

Let not forget Boyce & Hart, Santa Monica Civic. Great job Mr Dk.