Music has lost its brightest star this week.
Ken Kragen was best-known for his work organizing We Are The World with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, which raised $64,000,000 for Africa aid. He died on Tuesday from natural causes. His family also shared the news.
The music manager was also involved in top-flight acts such as The Bee-Gees (Olivia Newton-John), Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, and Lionel Richie.
Sad loss: The music world has lost a bright beacon this week. His family announced that Ken Kragen, 85, died from natural causes in Brentwood, California, on Tuesday. Seen here in 2018 in Beverly Hills
He is also known for putting together the event Hands Across American where people held hands all the way from California to New York to help raise $34million to fight hunger and homelessness in the United States.
His wife, Cathy Worthington stated that he had been blessed to be married to someone who was so kind and generous.
The couple were together for 43 years.
Emma Kragen, Emma’s daughter said that, while I was proud of his professional accomplishments, he also has been the greatest dad I could have asked for.
An incredible feat: Ken is most well-known for his organization of the highly successful We Are The World single with Michael Jackson.
It was a good song: Quincy Jones, an actor Harry Belafonte’s idea for the producer, produced it. It raised $64 Million for Africa aid.
We Are the World, a 1985 release.
It went on to raise $64 million for USA For Africa and won many Grammy Awards.
The song included vocals from Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen are among the many celebrities who have been featured.
All began with Harry Belafonte calling Ken, asking if Ken could organize a concert to raise money for Africa’s poor.
Kragen answered the phone and said “yes” to his celebrity friends.
Early days: Ken was born in Alameda, California and went on to attend University of California, Berkeley and then Harvard Business School. Seen in 1985
Taht’s entertainment! Ken has also tried his hand at television, producing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS. This is Steve Martin with his brothers
The manager managed to get Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie together in one month. Quincy Jones was the producer.
It was an instant hit that stayed on the charts for many months.
His next big hit was the year after. Hands Across America. Six million participants held hands across America, from East to West.
This stunt brought in $34 Million for US citizens.
First, a music manager: Ken was a music manager for Trisha Yearwood (left), and Kenny Rogers (right).
One of his clients was Olivia Newton-John at the 2018 G’Day USA Black Tie Gala, InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
One of the most important things in disco was also Ken’s supergroup, The Bee Gees. This group can be seen on 1977.
Ken was born in Alameda, California and went on to attend University of California, Berkeley and then Harvard Business School.
As a music manager, he quickly made a name for himself and worked alongside top country artists like Travis Tritt and Dottie West.
The Bee-Gees, and Olivia Newton-John were his next targets.
Smart moves: Kragen moved into public speaker toward the end of his career and even headed classes at universities like USC and Harvard Business School. Ken served on the board of charity for Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, and Community in School. Seen in 2012
Ken has also tried his hand at television, producing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS.
And later he worked with Kenny Rogers and The First Edition on their show Rollin On The River.
Ken was once a co-worker with Burt Reynolds (of Smoky And The Bandit) fame.
Kragen became a public speaker towards the end of his professional career. He even taught classes at Harvard Business School and USC.
Ken was a member of the charity board for Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation as well as Community in School.