Ken Kragen
Encyclopedia
Ken Kragen is an author, speaker, non-profit consultant, TV & film producer and music manager.
In 1985, he was instrumental in securing the talent that appeared on the fund-raising single and album We Are the World
. Harry Belafonte
, contacted Kragen, who was then managing Lionel Richie
and Kenny Rogers
, about putting together a concert to help raise money for African causes. Kragen didn't believe that a concert would make enough of a difference and suggested a charity single instead, including about a dozen artists. However, response from musicians was overwhelming, and Kragen turned down about several dozen artists who wished to appear on the song.
The group, known as USA for Africa
, included Michael Jackson, Richie, Bruce Springsteen
, Cindy Lauper, Rogers, and many other pop music stars of the day. According to Ken Kragen, (who brought Quincy Jones onboard to produce the song)a record company president suggested that he also organize an album of unreleased songs by the same group of artists and that helped the project ultimately raise $64 million for poverty relief both in Africa and the US.
A year later, Kragen organized Hands Across America
, a transcontinental human chain that involved 6 1/2 million people. Once again that project raised millions of dollars to help hungry and homeless people around the world. Kragen had been the manager for musician Harry Chapin
, who, before his death in 1981, was a leading anti-hunger activist. Kragen, explaining his work on these benefit events, said, "I felt like Harry had crawled into my body and was directing everything."
Kragen has also been the manager of many other performers and a professor at UCLA
. He was also personal manager to country music stars Trisha Yearwood
, [Travis Tritt], Dottie West
and Kenny Rogers for many years. He is the recipient of many awards including the United Nation's Peace Medal, the Man of The Year from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern California, two MTV Video Awards, several Grammy nominations and dozens of others.
Kragen is a calligrapher, a photographer, a former active basketball player and an avid astronomy buff. He even built his own major observatory in California.
In 1985, he was instrumental in securing the talent that appeared on the fund-raising single and album We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
. Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
, contacted Kragen, who was then managing Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
and Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, about putting together a concert to help raise money for African causes. Kragen didn't believe that a concert would make enough of a difference and suggested a charity single instead, including about a dozen artists. However, response from musicians was overwhelming, and Kragen turned down about several dozen artists who wished to appear on the song.
The group, known as USA for Africa
USA for Africa
USA for Africa was the name under which forty-seven predominantly U.S. artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a US and UK Number One for the collective in April of that year...
, included Michael Jackson, Richie, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, Cindy Lauper, Rogers, and many other pop music stars of the day. According to Ken Kragen, (who brought Quincy Jones onboard to produce the song)a record company president suggested that he also organize an album of unreleased songs by the same group of artists and that helped the project ultimately raise $64 million for poverty relief both in Africa and the US.
A year later, Kragen organized Hands Across America
Hands Across America
Hands Across America was a benefit event and publicity campaign staged on Sunday May 25, 1986 in which approximately 6.5 million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the continental United States...
, a transcontinental human chain that involved 6 1/2 million people. Once again that project raised millions of dollars to help hungry and homeless people around the world. Kragen had been the manager for musician Harry Chapin
Harry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
, who, before his death in 1981, was a leading anti-hunger activist. Kragen, explaining his work on these benefit events, said, "I felt like Harry had crawled into my body and was directing everything."
Kragen has also been the manager of many other performers and a professor at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He was also personal manager to country music stars Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, [Travis Tritt], Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
and Kenny Rogers for many years. He is the recipient of many awards including the United Nation's Peace Medal, the Man of The Year from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern California, two MTV Video Awards, several Grammy nominations and dozens of others.
Kragen is a calligrapher, a photographer, a former active basketball player and an avid astronomy buff. He even built his own major observatory in California.