Donald K. Donald

Education

Donald K. Donald studied at Rosemere High School near Montreal, and at Sir George Williams University (Concordia University). As a teenager he organized dances in schools and youth clubs.

Career Highlights

Donald K. Donald became impresario for such upcoming rock groups as Lighthouse and J.B. and the Playboys. In the 1970s, Donald K. Donald replaced the producer Sam Gesser and specialized in organizing concert tours for American groups in Eastern Canada. When a bomb destroyed the Rolling Stones' loud-speakers 24 hours before their concert in Montreal in 1972, Tarlton brought in replacements from Los Angeles and subsequently became the producer for the Rolling Stones in Canada. In 1975 he organized the Pink Floyd concert at Montreal's Autostadium before an audience of 40,000 fans. There followed many of the great names in rock and pop music: The Who, David Bowie, Supertramp, Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Sting, performing, for the most part, at the Montreal Forum.

A colourful and debonair figure, Donald also opened the Forum to such Quebec talents as Corey Hart and April Wine, and co-founded Aquarius Records. During the 1980s, he diversified his activities. In 1987 he produced the Tango Argentino show on Broadway. The following year, he became associated with the production of Black & Blue, which won three Tony Awards in the United States. In 1991, he produced the shows of AC/DC and of Céline Dion in Montreal.

Honours

Donald K. Donald received the Félix Award for producer of the year by the ADISQ in 1982.