Hit Sense and Chutzpah

Born in the Bronx, the son of a tailor, Don Kirshner yearned to be a songwriter. As he matured, it became obvious he had the hit-sense – and the chutzpah – to be a starmaker. Starting in the 50s, collaborating with Robert Cassotto (later better known as Bobby Darin), Kirshner remained active in the music industry until his death Jan. 17 of heart failure at age 76.

In 1966, Kirshner was dubbed the “Man with the Golden Ear” by Time. Though he couldn’t play an instrument himself, he  knew a good tune when he heard it, and pitched the work of unknowns like Neil Diamond, Carole King and Neil Sedaka to other artists, building platinum on gold. He was later inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame.

Donning a leisure suit in September of 1973, Don dialed back the personality to bring “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” to American television, but the boldness still went to 11. In a 2009 interview he told Rolling Stone magazine, “I was a nervous wreck because the Stones were being offered a million dollars by the other networks. I got Mick Jagger on the phone and he says, ‘So what are you giving me?’ I said, ‘300.’ He says, ‘300 grand?’ I said, ‘No, $300 a man.’ He laughed and said, ‘Chap, I love your work and I’m gonna do it for you.’ The Stones and the Beatles, they were into our American songs and writers.” Now that’s chutzpah. The Rolling Stones were booked for the premiere of “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” and the show ran through 1981, featuring the Ramones, The Eagles, David Bowie, the Allman Brothers Band, Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas…the list goes on and on.

The amazing Man with the Golden Ear is survived by his wife, Sheila; his son, Ricky Kirshner, a producer of the Tony Awards show; his daughter, Daryn Lewis; five grandchildren, and a long list of songs that will forever be stuck in our heads.