Don Kirshner
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Year:
2012
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Inducted by:
Carole King
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Category:
Ahmet Ertegun Award
Introduction
The commercial genius who laid the foundation of American pop music.
From putting together dynamic songwriting teams to bringing bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd to the mainstream on his television show, Don Kirshner was the ultimate star-maker.
Carole King Inducts Don Kirshner
Carole King Inducts Don Kirshner at the 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony-
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Carole King Inducts Don Kirshner00:05:45 -
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Sheila Kirshner Acceptance Speech00:00:48
Hall of Fame Essay
2012
Few people have stamped the music of their era as indelibly as impresario Don Kirshner.
As a music publisher, he discovered some of the greatest rock & roll songwriters in history. The creator of Don Kirshner s Rock Concert, he gave national television exposure to a generation of rock greats. He was one of the first independent record producers.
And long before “cross marketing” and “multiple platforms” were buzzwords, this visionary understood the value of coordinating management, publishing, and production, as well as promoting music via film and television.
