Don Kirshner

Don Kirshner, once known as The Man With the Golden Ear, is an American song publisher and rock producer; best known for managing songwriting talent to successful groups like The Monkees and The Archies. As a producer, Kirshner was influential in starting off the career of singers and songwriters including Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond and Carole King.

'Rock Concert' show

Kirschner was the host and creator of a weekly rock-concert program called Don Kirshner's Rock Concert from 1972 to 1983. With its long-form live performances, as compared to canned, often lip-synched performances that were the staple of earlier TV shows like Shindig, it was a real breakthrough. Many consider it the predecesor to MTV.

Related Topics:
Shindig - MTV

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The program presented many of the most successful rock bands of the era, yet many mostly recall Kirshner's infamously wooden delivery as the program host (lampooned later on Saturday Night Live by Paul Shaffer).

Related Topics:
Saturday Night Live - Paul Shaffer

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