Music producer Don Kirshner dies at 76

MIAMI — Don Kirshner, the rock impresario who produced some of the biggest musical hits of the 1960s — including Connie Francis’ iconic ode to spring break, “Where the Boys Are” — died Monday of heart failure in Boca Raton, Fla., where he lived. He was 76.

“In his office — after he made it as a publisher — in one room he had Carole King writing songs, in another room he had Neil Sedaka,” Francis told McClatchy Newspapers on Tuesday. “In every room he had the top writers in the business writing him songs. It was magic.”

Kirshner’s publishing company, Aldon Music, at the “Brill Building” in New York City, also helped make stars of Neil Diamond, Tony Orlando, The Monkees and The Archies.

Kirshner first approached the teenage Francis in 1956. He came to her New York office with his best friend, Bobby Darin.

“They had just written a jingle for a furniture store in Orange, N.J.,” said Francis, who now lives in Broward County, Fla. “At night they were playing in a combo at the Catskill mountains.”

Francis, the biggest-selling female recording star of the 1950s and ’60s, liked Kirshner from the start.

“He had this boyish, enthusiastic charm,” she said. “And Bobby Darin looked like he couldn’t care less.”

She recorded the budding team’s first hit song, “My First Real Love,” in 1956.

Two years later, Kirshner produced a smash record for Francis, “Stupid Cupid,” written by Howard Greenfield and Sedaka.

“It was Don’s introduction to Connie Francis, who would go on to record ‘Stupid Cupid’ and propel my songwriter career,” Sedaka said in a statement Tuesday. “He was a great friend, a pioneer, and a father figure for many of us young songwriters. He will be missed.”

Under Kirshner’s tutelage, Sedaka and Greenfield provided Francis with her signature piece in 1960, the title song to MGM’s spring break classic, “Where the Boys Are.”

In 1966, Kirshner came on board to launch NBC’s Beatles knock-off, The Monkees, starring Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones. Among the hit songs Kirshner helped introduce: “I’m a Believer,” written by Neil Diamond, and “Last Train to Clarksville,” by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

In 1968, Kirshner assembled another TV band — this time animated — The Archies. Hits included “Sugar, Sugar.”

After years in the background, Kirshner became a household name in 1973 when he created, produced and hosted his own hit TV show, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.” He presented such stars as The Rolling Stones, the Bee Gees, George Harrison, Tina Turner and Billy Joel.

Kirshner’s songs were recorded by Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Time magazine once dubbed him “The Man with the Golden Ear” and he was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2007.

“The most performed song for BMI Broadcast Music Inc., ’You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,’ was a Don Kirshner song,” according to the Hall of Fame website.

Francis said Kirshner produced so many hits, “BMI would get together every month to decide how to pay him. That’s how successful he was.”

Kirshner is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sheila; children Ricky and Daryn; and five grandchildren.