BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Legendary American music man Don Kirshner died of heart failure in Boca Raton, Florida, according to media reports Wednesday. He was at 76.

A renowned song publisher and rock producer, Kirshner is best known for managing the songwriting talent behind the successful pop music television series "The Monkees" and later "The Archies" and his "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" on ABC.

He gave future superstars like The Police and Billy Joel early national exposure -- and also worked with everyone from Carole King and Bobby Darin to Black Sabbath and the Allman Brothers.

Kirshner also ran three labels, Dimension Records, Colgems Records and Kirshner Records.

He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila, two children and five grandchildren.