DON GRIERSON, EXECUTIVE WHO WORKED WITH THE BEATLES DIED

R.I.P. Don Grierson, a A&R executive who received a Golden Apple Award from The Beatles while at Capitol Records, died on January 5. Don Grierson was 77.

 

Don Grierson worked as a local radio DJ in Australia. His half-century music industry career included stints as an A&R Coordinator, West Coast, for RCA Records; Manager for International Promotion and West Coast Promotion Manager at Capitol Records, where he helped promote The Beatles’ early records, and was awarded a Golden Apple Award in 1968 from the band recognizing his efforts from 1966-‘69. Grierson went on to become VP/Head of &R for both EMI America and Capitol Records and Senior Vice President/Head of A&R at Epic Records, where he famously signed Celine Dion to her first recording contract after label Columbia turned her down.



 
Among the artists he worked were Joe Cocker,Michael Jackson, Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, ,Poison, Tina Turner, Bob Seger, Cyndi Lauper, Anne Murray, Duran Duran, Crowded House, the Smithereens, Gloria Estefan, the Jacksons, Alice Cooper, J. Geils Band, Kenny Rogers, Heart, Megadeth, among many others.


He is survived by his wife Deborah, daughter Nicole and brother Barry in addition to ex-wife Patricia Chow.