TORONTO, December 5, 2006 — One of Canada’s most successful concert promoters, record label executives and music industry vets, Donald K Tarlton has been chosen as the recipient of the 2007 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced the recipient of the prestigious award that recognizes an outstanding individual who has contributed to the growth and advancement of the Canadian music industry.
"Donald K Tarlton is a trailblazer in the music industry and deserving recipient who exemplifies the spirit of the Award," says Melanie Berry, CARAS President. "He has been, and continues to be, instrumental in supporting the development of new artists and effectively promoting Canadian music around the world."
"It’s been a privilege to participate as an active entrepreneur in the Canadian recording and live entertainment industries for the past four decades," noted Tarlton. "My greatest thrill is to have played a small part in many wonderful Canadian success stories and to have had the opportunity to work with incredibly talented artists, their devoted representatives and so many behind the scene industry players and characters."
Since launching his own concert promotion company, Donald K Donald (DKD) Productions in 1966, and merging the company with BCL Entertainment Corporation in 1991, Tarlton has become one of the world’s more successful concert touring promoters. Donald has produced and promoted more than 5,000 events for some of the world’s most iconic musicians including record-breaking concerts for the Bee Gees, Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Elton John, Genesis, KISS, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and U2 to name a few.
His most recent involvement was the record-breaking two-night sellout of The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour concert at the Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Tarleton's achievements are not limited to concert promotion. In 1969, Donald established Aquarius Records, one of Canada’s most significant independent labels for the past 30 years and responsible for the release of chart-topping albums from Canadian artists such as April Wine, Corey Hart, Sass Jordan, Serial Joe, SUM 41 and more than 75 other albums to-date. Aquarius Records was recently voted Canada’s Independent Label of the Year at the 19th Annual Canadian Music Industry Awards. Congratulations Donald. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
