Don Kirshner, who established himself as a music mogul in the 1960s, helped to launch the career of the Monkees, and later became a television fixture as host of a popular live-music series in the 1970s, died January 17, 2011, in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 76.

According to news reports, the cause of death was heart failure.

Television viewers of the 1970s and early 1980s will recall Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, the late-night series that brought the biggest names in rock and pop music to television, where they performed live instead of the usual lip-synced version that were frequently used for television appearances. Artists featured on the show included the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Bowie, Sly & the Family Stone, Kiss, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and many others.

Before Rock Concert, which aired from 1973-1982, Kirshner was involved with television when he helped to conceive the Monkees, a pop foursome designed in the mold of the Beatles. In addition to a popular weekly television series, the Monkees recorded hit singles and albums.

Following a legal dispute with the Monkees over creative differences, Kirshner was fired from his role with the group. He went on to form the Archies, a popular act known for its bubblegum pop sound, exemplified by the 1969 song “Sugar, Sugar.” The band, which took its name from the popular Archie comic strip, also became an animated TV series.

Prior to his involvement with the Monkees, which began in 1965, Kirshner, who was born in the Bronx on April 17, 1934, was already a formidable presence in the music business. His music career began when he met Robert Cassotto, a young singer whose Kirshner helped to launch with the name Bobby Darin.

Later, with partner Al Nevins, he established Aldon, a music publishing company that hired such up-and-coming songwriters, as Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka and the teams of Gerry Goffin and Carole King and Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.

After Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert ended its run, Kirshner moved to Florida.

Kirshner is survived by his wife of 50 years, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.