I loved Don – he was not only one of the most wired in promoters of his time , he was, as you say, a star in his own right….

Boy, did he know his market – when I did a show with him in Montreal , I met everyone – the building owner or manager,the Police Chief, the local mafia  capo, the head of the local teamsters, the PD of the presenting radio station -everyone involved in promoting the show, and some, just essential for Don to operate as smoothly as he did in Montreal – He made them all part of the show …

I could recount tales of countless nights on Catherine Street, two weeks of total mayhem during the 76 Montreal Olympics, The Stones truck being blown up by the Separatists,and of course The Who being bailed out of jail. (that was actually caused by Keith Moon redecorating his hotel room in tomato ketchup rather late at night),  My favorite memory  however involves my dirty washing  – for 30 years everytime I arrived in Montreal, Don would collect it, take it home to his wife and deliver it back to me after the show  .. Needless to say I didn’t do my laundry for two weeks before one of his shows !

Peter Rudge

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Corky Laing here.

I’ve been following you since I worked at Polygram Canada in the A&R department with Bob Ansell in the 90’s.

After all these years, I’m writing to you as a response to your tribute on Donald K Donald. I’m feeling very sentimental because Donald was my first manager in Montreal during my Barthomew plus 3 days.I believe we were one on his first groups. After booking us all over Quebec in every kind of venue, he had us open for the WHO at the Forum! (In those days of the British Invasion, the Canadian government insisted on having a local group open those shows.)

In capsule form, I was pleasantly surprised to see you write this lovely tribute to not only a Canadian, but a music man who personally launched many, many Canadian artists in many, many different ways.

I’m honored to be one of them.

All good things,

Corky Laing

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Donald was a dear friend and besides doing lots of concert business, I did lots of mgt biz with his associate Terry Flood who managed Corey Hart “Sunglasses at night”.  Great looking kid and good act too!  I knew most of DKD stories but the best was when Flood came to  New Orleans and Don Fox had set him up for a pot bust in his hotel room and they took Terry to the jail in hand cuffs and interrogated him (it was actually Fox’s office) but w flood lights shining in his eye, terry thought he was going to prison for a international pot smuggling scandal!  Donald insisted Fox stop for fear of Terry having a heart attack!

Tom Ross

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Donald was a gem of a man. Smart as they come and always had a smile on his face. When us “Founders” started in the live entertainment business, in the mid to late 60’s, we were teenagers, I was 18, others were in their early 20’s. I was always considered the kid by Bill Graham, Larry Magid, Don Law etc. Now at 76 years old this “kid” is watching time go by and the Founders are either retired or passing. I think Don and I are the only active Founders still in the business….apologies to anyone I might have left out. We are full of great stories as we got friendly with the artists and the best part of our business was hanging out with the artists, managers and agents making stories. We were all about the same age and were going through life experiences together. I couldn’t wait to promote shows by the Beach Boys, Chicago, Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead and many others because when they came to my cities the shows and after shows were memorable. I’m afraid the stories will disappear when we do. Someone should have gotten us all together to tell the story of when the concert business, now a multi billion dollar industry, started. May Donald’s memory be a blessing.

Jim Koplik

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When I saw you wrote the name Donald Tarlton in the subject my heart sunk cuz I knew what was coming.

I LOVED The Deeker or DKD as I would sometimes call him.

I met him on my first pro tour in 1988 as Rod Stewart’s guitar player when we would do endless multiple nights in Canada at the old Forum and Maple Leaf Gardens. I knew a lot of the old school promoter guys back then since my manager was Promoter Bill Graham and many would make a point of saying hello to me.

Later in the early 90s I helped make Donald a lot of money writing songs and producing records with his main big Canadian superstar Sass Jordan and I even released a couple solo records on his Aquarius label in Montreal.

DKD was always smiling and seeing him or talking on the phone was always a joy for me because he loved the music and loved the game.

Now you said if you were under 40 years old why would you care….Well if you are a kid who loves The Rolling Stones you better care cuz as the stories were told to me (by others and The DKD himself)that it was Donald that arranged for Keith Richards to not go away after his big drug bust in Toronto….The Stones did a lot of good work and brought a lot of people together during those years thanks to Keith not being in a prison cell.

Donald K Donald REST IN POWER !

Stevie Salas

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Just lovely. Bailing out the Who, the money came from the owner of the local strip club. Moonie and Townsend had destroyed a hotel wall to connect their two rooms. Donald also supplied limos in the morning to take the entire Who entourage to their next gig in Boston that night. Donald also operated in the French Canadian world. I can recall an all day Montreal Forum show with about 14 acts that Quebec superstar Robert Charlebois headed that also had The z Byrds and Ted Nugent. Donald also oversaw the emergence of Celine Dion in Quebec and then Canada then the world in the 90s.

Larry LeBlanc

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From Roger Daltrey’s Thanks a lot Mr. Kibblewhite book (pp. 160-161):

“On December 2nd, our American record company, MCA, threw an after-show party at the Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal. We were playing the next night in Boston and I had a killer sore throat so I went to bed, miserable, with my Mandrax and all its accompanying side effects. I left the rest of the band to it.

At some point in the night, Keith decided to redecorate the entire hospitality suite with his own abstract ketchup art before Pete helped him shove a large marble table through a wall. After they’d thrown several other items of furniture into the pool, they scarpered off to bed. At four in the morning, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived in force and dragged sixteen of us off to the nick. There was no point telling them I’d had absolutely nothing to do with it.

In the end, they held us for eight hours and let us go only when the local promoter agreed to pay six thousand dollars in cash to cover repairs.”

My most sincere heartfelt condolences,

Pablo Duran

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Yes, Bob, Don was a great guy, and as you say, one of a team of promoters who were our family during the years I was on the road with Jethro Tull before stepping down as manager to focus my efforts on Chrysalis Records: Don in Canada, Don Law in Boston, Bob Bageris in Detroit, Larry Magid in Philadelphia, etc. etc. and of course, Ron Delsener in New York and Bill in San Francisco.

Their contribution to the careers of so many artists of that era will never be understood, let alone appreciated. They not only helped develop those acts, they gave them THEIR START!

I remember well, on one Jethro Tull show , standing by the side of the stage with Ian Anderson watching the Eagles who were our opening act!!

Great memories, great days.

All the best, Bob,

Terry Ellis

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Well done remembrance to the Original Donald in my book.  You touched pretty much all my bases with Donald, such a legendary character.

You only missed one thing – the Dude was wearing a suit & tie, or at least a sport coat, 90% of the time.  Well 80% cuz he played a lot of golf but surely he wore a sport coat to the club!
My first thought was the Class of 1974 pic and my memory says he’s down front w a suit on and a white shirt and light tie.   I respected his uniform always.

I was lucky enough to settle more than a few shows with his enforcer Brian, who was very competent, yet you didn’t leave feeling like you got totally screwed on a big show settlement.

I was lucky enough to get to hang out every year with him at the Commissioner’s Cup where his outgoing personality in year one saved the night because someone had to stand up and say something!  God bless him for that.

I was lucky enough to host him at my club in Vegas during those years but never got the chance to see him in Montreal and maybe hang out at Royal Montreal Golf Club.  We always talked about doing that.

I was very lucky to say I knew Donald and send heartfelt condolences to his family and all the industry peeps who were lucky enough to know him better than me.

Cheers Donald Tarlton.  R.I.P.

With love,
Bob Cayne

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You nailed it, Bob.
One of a kind. Kind and hilarious, trailblazer and mentor to many of the industry’s great promoters. And a consummate storyteller.
I’ll miss Donald.  I didn’t spend a lot of time with him but I enjoyed all the time we spent. Thanks for recognizing his life and contributions.

Bill Silva

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I worked with Donald in Montreal, first with Celine,  then on with his artists from the label he created to promote french acts.

You are so right about him, he Will be missed. Even though the business is not the same!

As for the story, I’ve got a Few, but to go along with yours… one day he got his car stolen, he called his lawyer to check on his car … he said “I dont care about the car but my golf clubs were in it and they are customized” one hour later the lawyer called back and told Donald that they want 3 thousands to return the bag !!!

He was not only the King of Rock’nRoll, but the King of Montréal, he helped so many Canadian act, thanks for your dedication !

Rest in peace

Jean Lamothe

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Donald K. Donald was far more than a concert promoter — he was a builder of moments, a connector of people, and an architect of Canada’s music culture and landscape. For decades, his name stood behind some of the most unforgettable live performances this country has ever seen.

He had an instinct for people and charisma that couldn’t be taught. He opened doors for artists, created stages where there had been none, and helped turn Montreal into a destination for world-class live music. His influence lives on in every artist who found an audience here, and in every fan who experienced something unforgettable at one of his shows.

Thank you, Donald, for everything you gave – to the music, to the city, and to all of us who had the privilege of working with and knowing you. You changed the course of my life. I’ve got my bic lighter held up high for you tonight. I love you. It’s truly the end of an era.

Peter Wark

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One year at Midem Donald brought me to dinner with 2 other legendary titans of industry. On the way to the spot I was calculating who would own the discussion. It wasn’t a contest. Deke ran the table and had all of us laughing for hours. All the stories you mention above and another dozen. The stories and the delivery were masterful….and that was before security shut us down at the casino later that evening. I’ll try to retell that one sometime, but it will never be as entertaining as Donald would tell it. I wish I could ring him up and hear it one more time. One of a kind.

Chris Taylor

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I grew up in Montreal. Donald was a LEGEND in that town. Every great concert had ‘Donald K Donald ‘along the bottom of the flyer. He ran the concert business in that city. He’s a true one.

Dave Weisz

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DKD was known as ‘Deke’ and was into everything. When I asked him to help me get Puppetry of the Penis into Toronto after our Montreal NAM prem he was into it. So much used to happen in Montreal… Just for Laughs was a legendary launch vehicle for more than just comedy. For live shows. Bruce Hills used to run JFL (JPR in French…!) and is still enormous in comedy globally. Farewell Deke. Love the old promoters.

Ross Mollison

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He was one of the best!  I was young, but had the opportunity to work with this whole lot, by way of Concerts West.  Such amazing , good characters.

Maria Brunner

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I was in radio here in Montreal for a long time. I was THRILLED when he came into the station where I worked. Growing up I heard him on the rock station, CHOM FM, hyping up the next big show that was coming to the Montreal Forum. He was super cool and truly larger than life. Thanks for your remembrance.

Patrick Charles

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You have captured the uniqueness and sheer one of a kindness that was DKD. He was #1 mentor to me and so many others who are still in the business and many who have sadly departed. We won’t see his likeness again and yes you started the campaign here… Let’s get him inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.

Barry Garber

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As a kid growing up in Ottawa in the 70s, I had my ear glued to my transistor radio, tuned to CFRA. When they advertised upcoming concerts they always said at the end “A Donald K Donald production”. Thanks for that trip down memory lane and the insight behind the man.

R. Cieszkowski

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Thank you so much for remembering Donald. Being 52 years old, I can honestly say that so many Montrealers of my generation have as many memories of Donald as the incredible shows he brought to Montreal. He just brought the best talent on stage. He also bridged the gap between French and English acts, he not only knew his market but he respected it as much, which tells you something very important about him. And whenever he gave an interview on CHOM, well like you wrote he was just the best storyteller… He was a big big piece of Montreal, we’ll miss him.

Simon Prieur

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Thanks for this great article about Don. I grew up in Montreal during that era and yes he was a top promoter and quite a character as you described. One of the places I believed he did book some acts not into was the Bonaventure Curling Club. It was a large concrete building that was converted into a concert hall during the summer. Some of the biggest Canadian bands of that era played there. I also remember a concert with the American band Shadows of the Knight playing there. Although the acoustics sucked it was still a great place to hear live music. From time to time Don would get on stage and do his shtick and introduce some of he bands he was managing. Always a fun time to hear his spiel. He was one in a million. He also booked international bands into the Montreal Forum and I had the joy to attend a few of those great concerts. To those who knew him he will be missed.

David Stein

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Great tribute.

And everybody always pronounced his full name as if it was one word.

RIP DonaldKDonald.

Janie Hoffman

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Don’t forget that Donald helped break bands in Canada before they hit in the US. CHOM-FM played it and he would promote it.

Peter Burnside

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Donald was the manager and agent of  my band and any others he could get into the high school dances in Montreal’s English- speaking West Island every week .

The proximity of Montreal and Canada was so far from the core of the music industry, yet he had more passion and fun doing it, and it worked. Debra Rathwell, (AEG) Terry Flood (April Wine, Keith Brown -Cory Hart+) so many locals were lifted from his vision.

Thank You!

Your dedication to him is also again, one of a kind. I’ve known him my whole life and your description and perception of Donald  is so right on in every sentence.

Bravo Bob! RIP DKD.

Marty Simon

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A short note to thank you for the great story on Donald.

You captured the essence of the man who was admired by everyone who came in touch with him and loved by everyone who knew him.

Regards
Terry Flood