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The Man With the Golden Ear: Remembering Don Kirshner

Don Kirshner

Don Kirshner
April 17, 1934 - January 17, 2011
 
 
The Passing of a Legend
 
It is with sorrow that I share the news that the world has lost a great music man and the creative genius responsible for The Archies.  Don Kirshner, the Man with the Golden Ear who was behind so many successful singers and composers and hit records, passed away in Boca Raton, Florida, on January 17, 2011 at the age of 76.  As an impresario, music publisher, record producer and artist manager, Mr. K (as he was affectionately called) was a driving force in the business, and he helped to launch the careers of several singers and groups, including Ron Dante and The Archies.  Kirshner was the music supervisor for The Archie Show on Saturday-morning television, and it was he who assembled the vocalists and musicians to comprise the fictional Archies group.  Ron Dante, who had first met and worked with Kirshner as a teenager in the early 1960s, won the role of the singing voice of Archie and recorded more than a hundred tracks over the course of three and a half years.  Ron D and "Donnie" became lifelong friends, and it is understandably a difficult time for Ron as he has had to say goodbye to his friend and mentor of such long standing.
 
Condolences to Don Kirshner's wife of 50 years, Sheila, the couple's son and daughter, Ricky and Daryn, and their children, and all of Kirshner's family and friends.  Rest in peace, Mr. K, and thanks for the music.

Don Kirshner with Ron Dante and Toni Wine

Don Kirsher (left) with Ron Dante and Toni Wine, c. 1963
 
 
 
 
Good news: Don Kirshner was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012.
 
 

Ron Dante and Don Kirshner, 2007

Ron Dante (left) with Don Kirshner, 2007

Laura's Ron Dante Fan Pages was my first website, but I've got a bunch of others!
Please visit:
Laura Pinto Online (this lists all of my sites and social networks)
Laura's Oldies Sites (links to my oldies-related websites)
Life Rocks On (website for my novel)
The D.A.'s Forever (website for my novel)

Visit Ron's official site, Ron Dante Online
 
 
Note:  Laura's Ron Dante Fan Pages is a fan site owned and maintained by Laura Pinto.  Laura is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com..