Trivia

Was described by contemporaries as playing only one instrument: the telephone, which he used throughout the day for business.

At his first recording session with The Monkees, they didn't know who he was; Micky Dolenz actually mistook him for a studio "gofer"--production assistant--since he'd carried in refreshments for everyone. When Kirshner began to give instructions to the band, Dolenz's reaction was to pour the ice from the Coke he'd been drinking over Kirshner's head, only finding out afterwards that he'd just tried to "cool off" the man in charge of the whole musical side of the project. Dolenz said later, "I must have apologized to him a thousand times over the next few months." Kirshner luckily didn't hold the incident against him.

Married 50 years at time of death.

Founder, with Al Nevins, of Dimension Records (1962-), New York City.

Founder, with Al Nevins, of music publisher Aldon Music, New York City.

Put together the successful pop groups the Monkees, Kansas and the Archies.