More about: Billy Joel
Rock promoter has died...
Billy Joel and Neil Diamond have led tributes to rock promoter Don Kirshner, who has died.
The 76-year-old, who was also a music publisher, died of heart failure In a hospital in Boca Raton on Monday (January 17).
An influential figure on the the US music scene, Kirshner also helped launch the careers of Prince, The Police and Lionel Richie.
Diamond told the Associated Press he was “saddened” to learn of Kirshner's death.
"ll always be grateful to him for pairing 'I'm A Believer' and other songs of mine with the Monkees,” he said. “The music business never had a better supporter."
Joel, whose career was also aided by Kirshner, said: "Don Kirshner gave new, young musicians the opportunity to showcase their performances for a huge audience during the 'golden age' of the popular music business.”
Kirshner began his career in the music industry as a song writer and he was recognised by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Music Stars Who Died In 2010
Jay Reatard - Jay Reatard was found dead at his home on January 13. The 29-year-old's autopsy revealed that he died from cocaine and alcohol toxicity.
Teddy Pendergrass - The revered Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes performer died from respiratory failure in January. He was 59.
Kate McGarrigle - The Montreal-based singer, mother to Rufus and Martha Wainwright, died in January after a battle with clea cell sarcoma cancer. She was 63.
Mark Linkous - Sparklehorse frontman Mark Linkous committed suicide on March 6. The singer had previously overdosed on Valium and antidepressants while on tour with Radiohead in 1996, which left him in a wheelchair for six months.
Malcolm McLaren - Former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren died on April 8 at the age of 64 after losing his battle with Cancer.
MC Guru - The Gang Starr rapper died of cancer in New York in April. He was 48.
Paul Gray, founder of Slipknot - Slipknot bassist Paul Gray was found dead in an hotel room after an accidental drug overdose on May 24. Gray, aged 38, had fatal levels of morphine and the morphine substitute fentanyl in his blood when his body was found.
Stuart Cable - The former Stereophonics drummer died at the age of 40. Cable was found dead in his home on June 7 after choking to death on his own vomit.
Sergio Vega - Sergio Vega was shot dead at the age of 40 as he made his way to a concert in Sinaloa state. The singer's death on June 26 came just hours after he quashed online reports which claimed that the star had been killed.
Charles Haddon of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool's Charles Haddon took his own life at the age of 22 in August. The singer jumped off a satellite mast after performing at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium.
Mike Edwards, founder of ELO - Edwards died after his van was crushed by a bale of hay on September 3. He was 62.
Solomon Burke - The soul singer, aged 70, died whilst one a plane in Amsterdam on October 10 after arriving on a flight from Los Angeles. Burke is said to have died from natural causes.
Captain Beefheart - Captain Beefheart passed away on December 17 at the age of 69. The musician died of complications from multiple sclerosis at a hospital in Northern California.
Teena Marie - The Motown legend died over Christmas at the age of 54.
Bernard Wilson - The Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes performer died on Boxing Day (December 26) at the age of 64.
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More about: Billy Joel
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