WATCH: Sheldon Kagan announces his retirement
MONTREAL — Many Montrealers grew up hearing the name Sheldon Kagan.
The founder and president of Sheldon Kagan Productions has spent the past 50 years booking some of the biggest names to play in Montreal, creating special events like the Salon de la Mariée bridal show, and providing the entertainment for thousands of weddings, corporate and charity events.
Today, the president of one of Montreal’s leading concert and special events production companies announced that he is hanging up his mic after five decades in the business.
Kagan’s career started in 1965 when he was just 15 years old. Determined to be an entertainer, Kagan moved out of the family home, and became Montreal’s first mobile DJ, eventually setting up his own business and hiring more DJs to work with him.
He was also scouting bands, and before long, his company was doing about 15 parties a night.
“You couldn’t just Google who was out there.”
“I had this idea to bring in the big band concerts to Montreal, but that was before the internet,” Kagan said.
“You had to track down the agent and do a lot of research, and in the late 60s I booked my first show at Place des Arts with Dizzy Gillespie and Gene Krupa.”
Over the years Kagan has worked with more than 50 artists. His resume includes the likes of Dionne Warwick, The Commodores, Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, George Benson, Ravi Shankar, Bill Withers, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Buddy Rich, Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee and Miles Davis.
As a booker, Kagan had a personal touch, always picking up the performers at the airport himself, taking them out and spending time with them.
“It was an incredible learning experience.”
“At an early age, being able to deal with these professionals who have accomplished so much in their lives.” Kagan said.
In 1980, to help promote his DJ business, Kagan decided to do a bridal show, and he started Le Salon de la Mariée. The inaugural event was held at the Holiday Inn Pointe-Claire.
“It was very small but I saw the potential and it was a great success,” Kagan said.
Within three years Le Salon de la Mariée became the first public show at the Sheraton Hotel downtown.
“The show has always taken place, even during the ice storm of 1998.”
“The show has grown, and features everything for weddings, honeymoons and future homes,” Kagan explained.
“This year, the show celebrated its 35th anniversary.”
While the bridal shows are expected to continue in some form, Kagan is stepping down, and Sheldon Kagan Productions will cease to exist.
“When I first started, I said, ’25 years would be amazing,’ and of course that happened, so I said, ’50 years and that will be it,’ and basically this February is the 50th anniversary of my business,” Kagan said.
“I’ve decided that I’ve done everything I want to do and I’m retiring.”
“I’m going to write a book, do a speaking tour, travel and spend more time with my family.
“My daughter Marlene and my son Barry have modeled in my fashion shows at Le Salon since they could walk, and this year at my Salon I had my 17-month-old grandson Turner model, which was a phenomenal experience for all of us.
“My wife Linda has been a part of this from the day we first met (which happened to be at a party that I was performing at).
“Now it’s time to move on to other things.”
A full interview with Sheldon Kagan will feature on Focus Montreal on Feb. 22, 2015.
WATCH: Remembering Sheldon Kagan: A look back
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