Ken Kragen
Manager, promoter, author, TV producer, speaker and humanitarian Ken Kragen died in L.A. on Tuesday (Dec. 14) at age 85.
Kragen managed such top music stars as Trisha Yearwood, Lionel Richie, Harry Chapin, Dottie West, Travis Tritt, Olivia Newton-John, Burt Reynolds, The Bee Gees, The Smothers Brothers and, most famously, Kenny Rogers. Using his leverage with superstars Richie and Rogers, he organized the Grammy Award winning anthem “We Are the World” in 1985. Billed as by USA For Africa, this was an all-star charity recording that became one of the biggest selling singles of all time.
Early in his career, he managed folk-pop artist Harry Chapin (1942-1981). Noted for such hits as “Taxi” (1972) and “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1974), Chapin was notable for his charity work. Kragen applied this ethos for his own career following Chapin’s untimely death in a car accident.
He became the executive producer of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV series. (1967-69). This is when he met Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, who guested on an episode. He subsequently produced the syndicated series Rollin’ on the River (1971-73) starring the band. This marked the beginning of his long and profitable relationship with Rogers.
With Kragen’s guidance, the singer rose to pop-country superstardom via a series of 1970s and 1980s hits such as “Lucille,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” “You Decorated My Life,” “Coward of the County,” “Lady” (penned by Richie), “We’ve Got Tonight” (with Sheena Easton) and “Islands in the Stream” (with Dolly Parton). Kragen also negotiated a string of top-rated TV movies starring Rogers.
In 1985, he was approached by Harry Belafonte to raise funds for African famine relief. Kragen assembled a star-studded cast to record “We Are the World,” co-written by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. In addition to Rogers, Richie, Belafonte and Jackson, the singers included Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Waylon Jennings, Paul Simon, Dionne Warwick, Huey Lewis, Kim Carnes, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Hall & Oates, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, James Ingram, Al Jarreau, Jefffrey Osborne, Lindsey Buckingham, Sheila E, Dan Aykroyd and more. It raised more than $64 million.
The following year, Kragen organized Hands Across America. This involved creating a human chain of 6.5 million people holding hards, stretching across the continent. Celebrities involved included Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Jerry Lewis, Ronald Reagan, Tony Danza, Fred Rogers, David Copperfield, Michael J. Fox, Walter Payton, Kathleen Turner, Bill Clinton, Lee Greenwood,George Burns, Tony Dorsett, Don Johnson, Bob Seger, Charlene Tilton, Dudley Moore, Richard Dreyfus, Kenny Loggins, Robin Williams, John Stamos, Chewbacca, Mickey Mouse and C-3PO, as well as Kenny Rogers, Belafonte, Jackson and Warwick. It benefitted U.S. hunger charities. The effort raised an estimated $15 million.
In 2010, he founded HomeAid.net, an annual campaign to combat homelessness. Kragen also worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the NAACP and other charities. He was presented with the United Nations Peace Medal.
In 1992, he and Quincy Jones co-produced part of the Inauguration festivities for President Bill Clinton. He portrayed himself in the 1996 TV movie The Late Shift. In 2004, Kragen produced the movie 12 Dogs of Christmas, which has since sold more than a million DVDs.
Ken Kragen was the author of the 1994 book Life Is a Contact Sport: Ten Great Career Strategies That Work. He documented his time with Chapin in the 1970 photo book On the Road With Harry Chapin.
In later years, he became a convention speaker, an event organizer and a consultant to a number of corporations and non profits. He taught at UCLA, notably a popular course titled “Stardom Strategies for Musicians.”
Kragen is survived by his wife Cathy Worthington; daughter cinematographer Emma Kragen; his sister Robin Merritt; brothers-in-law David and Mark Worthington, along with several nieces and nephews.
Donations in remembrance of Kragen can be made here.
Thomas Rhett, Mitchell Tenpenny & Walker Hayes To Perform At New Year’s Sporting Events
/by Steven BoeroCountry artists Thomas Rhett, Mitchell Tenpenny and Walker Hayes are headlining two major sporting events over New Year’s: the NHL Winter Classic and the Orange Bowl.
Rhett, an 18x multi-Platinum and Gold-Certified country artist, will perform during the first period intermission at the sold-out Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. The game will be played outdoors at Target Field, the home of MLB’s Minnesota Twins on Jan. 1.
The 2019 ACM Performer of the Year’s performance will be aired on TNT as part of the Winter Classic Event. The game and concert will air at 6 p.m. CT.
Tenpenny and Hayes will be performing at the highly anticipated 2021 Orange Bowl between Georgia and Michigan on New Year’s Eve.
The “Drunk Me” singer played football in high school and planned to play college football before deciding to pursue a music career. The fan fest will take place in the south lot outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT. Admission to fan fest is free for all fans with a ticket to the game.
“I’ve watched the Orange Bowl ever since I can remember,” says Tenpenny. “I’m so excited to play fan fest and get to see this game live!”
At halftime of the Orange Bowl, Hayes, the 2x Platinum singer of “Fancy Like,” will take the stage to perform the halftime show. The Orange Bowl will air on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Industry Ink: Parker McCollum, Lily Rose, MercyMe, Troubadour Blue
/by Lydia FarthingParker McCollum Releases Signature Edition Of Fan Club NFT
Parker McCollum. Photo: Tyler Conrad
MusicFX.io, a leading digital community that connects artists to their fans through NFTs, has released its first NFT with rising country artist Parker McCollum. The Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card: Signature Edition, named after the Platinum singer-songwriter’s debut album, is available for purchase now.
The Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card: Signature Edition is one of the world’s first fan club NFTs. With many of McCollum’s fans already signed up for priority access to his digital NFT fan club community, the first 1,000 to purchase a Black Card will receive a Signature Edition membership. The membership retails for $100.00 and includes an individually signed and numbered digital membership NFT, a 12-month membership to the Gold Chain Cowboy Club, access to private jam sessions, VIP access to future events, meet & greet opportunities at select Parker McCollum concerts & events, and more.
“The response from fans has been amazing,” shares McCollum. “I’m so lucky to be blessed with such awesome fans, and I can’t wait to start engaging with members of the Gold Chain Cowboy Club. It’s going to be insane!”
“Everyone at MusicFX, and Parker’s team, have been delighted with the feedback to his Black Card announcement last week,” adds Billie-Jo Aasen, co-head of MusicFX. “This really is a special moment for all of us, and it will show artists how we can connect them to their fans in ways they never thought were possible.”
Lily Rose Earns First Career RIAA Certification For ‘Villain’
Pictured (L-R): Paul Logan (Big Loud), Stacy Blythe (Big Loud), Ali Matkosky (Big Loud), Kelcie Roberts (Big Loud), Daniel Miller (Fusion Music), Kyle Clark (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), Rakiyah Marshall (Back Blocks Music), Lily Rose (Big Loud/Back Blocks Music/Republic Records), Matt Cottingham (Ritholz Levy Fields Llp), Daira Eamon, Mackenzie Carpenter, Patch Culbertson (Big Loud), Olivia Hanceri (Oh Creative), Lexi Howder (Oh Creative), Kennedy Murphy (Back Blocks Music), Tyler Arnold (Republic Records), Seth England (Big Loud). Photo: Chris Hornbuckle
Lily Rose recently celebrated her first-ever RIAA Gold certification for her breakthrough single, “Villain,” for earning over 500,000 combined sales and/or streams. Originally released on Dec. 15, 2020, Rose was presented with her commemorative plaque exactly one year post-release outside her previous employer at Opry Mills mall in Nashville.
“‘Villain’ has changed my life in more ways than one. The morning we wrote it, I had just finished an overnight shift stocking shelves at the mall, and it’s surreal to stand here a year after I released it with over 500,000 units sold, and the incredible writers and my team around me. Every time I step on stage and hear the fans singing my songs back to me, I’m reminded of why I do what I do. But looking at a plaque that says certified Gold with my name next to it? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” shares Rose. “The only reason why this is possible is because so many people were able to connect with a song that was so special to me, and for that I’m forever grateful.”
Written by Rose, Mackenzie Carpenter, Kyle Clark and produced by Matt Morrisey, the track first gained traction on TikTok where it skyrocketed to over 5 million views pre-release. Topping the iTunes US all genre chart for six days, the song caught the attention of Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall and quickly led to Rose signing her first record deal with Big Loud / Back Blocks Music and Republic Records in January 2021.
Recently named as part of MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2022, Rose will take on an opening slot on Chris Lane’s nationwide “Fill Them Boots Tour,” kicking off in January 2022.
MercyMe’s ‘Lifer’ Goes Gold
Pictured (L-R): Jeff Moseley (Founder/President, Fair Trade Services), Mike Scheuchzer, Kim Davis (BrickHouse Entertainment), Bart Millard, Dan Michaels (Senior VP Marketing & Promo, Fairtrade Services), Scott Brickell (BrickHouse Entertainment).
Multi-Platinum band MercyMe has received a Gold certification for their 2017 album Lifer. This is MercyMe’s seventh Gold-certified album, in addition to their one triple Platinum certification. All three singles from the project (“Even If,” “Grace Got You,” and “Best News Ever”) hit No. 1 on Billboard National Christian Audience, AC Monitored, and AC Indicator charts.
Fair Trade Services’ Founder/President Jeff Moseley and Senior VP of Marketing & Promo Dan Michaels, along with Scott Brickell and Kim Davis from the band’s management, BrickHouse Entertainment, presented commemorative plaques to band members Bart Millard and Mike Scheuchzer at their studio outside Nashville.
Closing out 2021, MercyMe garnered Top Christian Artists (No. 8), Top Duo/Group (No. 4), Top Christian Albums Artists (No. 8), Top Christian Digital Songs Artists (No. 4), and Hot Christian Songs Artists (No. 16) positions. Their current single, “On Our Way,” is currently Top 10 on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart.
Conway Entertainment Group Signs Nashville-Based Band Troubadour Blue
Troubadour Blue
Musical trio Troubadour Blue has signed with Conway Entertainment Group for exclusive booking. Brandon Mauldin will serve as the responsible agent for the group.
Daniel Kim Ethridge and Brenna Wheeler met while students at Nashville’s Belmont University where they began writing and performing together. Once Wheeler’s brother Eli graduated from Elon University, he joined the fold.
The trio has written all tracks on their debut album, produced by Tammy Rogers King, and share lead vocals. Troubadour Blue will embark on a mini tour in early January that will make stops in Florida, Tennessee, and several other states.
The group is managed by Jules Wortman of Wortman Works.
The Bluebird Cafe & NSAI Announce Partnership With Bob Kingsley Estate
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI), Victoria Shaw (Songwriter), Rhett Akins (Songwriter), Nan Kingsley, Craig Wiseman (Songwriter), Erika Wollam Nichols (General Manager, The Bluebird Cafe), John Zarling (President, 615 Leverage + Strategy) and Ken Halford.
The Bluebird Cafe and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) are partnering with the estate of the late radio icon Bob Kingsley to fund the preservation and distribution of historic songwriter performances.
Kingsley’s estate, under the stewardship of his wife Nan Kingsley, recently announced the partnership with songwriters Rhett Akins, Victoria Shaw and Craig Wiseman at “Live from the Bluebird: A Celebration of Bob Kingsley.”
A financial donation will help underwrite the digitization of some historic Bluebird Cafe shows that were recorded over the years in a variety of mediums. Additionally, video interviews with songwriters featured during The Bluebird Cafe’s 40th anniversary season in 2022 will also be part of the partnership.
Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas, (Kingsley’s home,) also announced earlier this week that they will partner with The Bluebird Cafe through a Kingsley Estate endowment to have their students involved in the digitization of the historic shows.
“The goal is to begin airing some of the iconic shows when The Bluebird Cafe’s celebrates its 40th birthday next June,” says General Manager Erika Wollam-Nichols.
NSAI also recently launched a Top 40 song page at nashvillesongwriters.com in honor of Kingsley.
“Each quarter NSAI is posting a playlist of the best 40 songs from our non-professional members, songs that come through our programs and services from songwriters around the world. We just launched our second such playlist and this has been very popular among our members. It is a great way to honor Bob’s legacy and a method to recognize and inspire a new generation of professional songwriters,” says NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison.
“Bob loved and supported the Nashville songwriter community,” adds Nan Kingsley. “From his early experiences with Hank Cochran and John Hartford to establishing Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley at the annual County Radio Seminar (CRS), Bob’s had a passionate appreciation for songwriters. He supported them on the air too, by using his platform to recognize and promote the individuals behind the songs. It is only fitting that I continue to honor his legacy with these partnerships.”
Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay Among RIAA Year-End Award Recipients
/by Lydia FarthingThe Recording Industry Association of America has released their year-end Gold and Platinum awards list for 2021. Only 16 albums and 98 singles released this year achieved RIAA certifications.
“In a landmark year for our nearly sixty-five-year-old Gold & Platinum Program, RIAA awarded more than 100 titles released in 2021 across many genres and styles of music,” shares Liz Kennedy, SVP, Gold & Platinum Awards, RIAA. “These awards mark the pinnacle of creative and commercial success in our business and celebrate artists and their label partners who connected so powerfully with their fans and the broader culture this past year. Congratulations to RIAA’s 2021 honorees!”
Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album, which released in January of 2021, was among the honors, taking top album of the year alongside Olivia Rodrigo‘s Sour. Wallen’s record, now certified double-Platinum, also earned the top Billboard 200 album of 2021. Meanwhile, Rodrigo also came in as the top digital single of 2021 with her breakthrough single “Driver’s License.”
Warner Music Nashville’s Dan + Shay were also among the award winners this year as their Good Things album earned a Gold certification after its release earlier this fall. Other Gold-certified albums from 2021 include 24KGolgn‘s El Dorado, DJ Khaled‘s Khaled Khaled, H.E.R.‘s Back of My Mind, Donda by Kanye West, and Jordi from Maroon 5, among others.
For a full list of this year’s RIAA awards, click here.
Randy Travis, Warner Music Nashville Premiere New Documentary ‘More Life’
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Ontourage Management’s Tony Conway; Chairman & CEO WMN John Esposito; EVP, A&R WMN Cris Lacy; Randy Travis; SVP, Artist Development WMN Shane Tarleton; Kyle Lehning; Mary Travis; 117 Entertainment’s Zach Farnum. Photo: Alan Poznier
Randy Travis and Warner Music Nashville revealed the country music legend’s new documentary, More Life, earlier this week at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Directed by Tacklebox Film’s Shaun Silva, the new film was over 10 years in the making.
Joined by Travis’ friends, family, and music industry executives, the debut airing was preceded by a panel discussing Travis’ early career and overall influence on the genre, as well as how More Life came to be.
Moderated by the Hall of Fame’s Peter Cooper, the panel featured Travis and his wife Mary; Silva; EVP, A&R Warner Music Nashville Cris Lacy; longtime Travis producer Kyle Lehning; and music historian/author Robert K. Oermann.
Distribution and more information about More Life will be announced in early 2022.
Concord Music Publishing Inks With Andy Albert, Acquires Full Catalog
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R, back row): Jim Selby, Melissa Spillman, Jen Hubbard, Garrett Stephenson, Ashley Nite, Courtney Allen, Duff Berschback; (L-R, front row): Matt Turner, Andy Albert, Brad Kennard.
Concord Music Publishing has signed singer-songwriter Andy Albert to a worldwide publishing deal. The agreement covers Albert’s full acquired catalog and future works.
Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Albert moved to Nashville in 2011 to be a part of the band Bonaventure, alongside Dan Smyers, now of Dan + Shay. He signed his first publishing deal with Downtown Music in 2014 and has since landed cuts with artists such as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Granger Smith, Dustin Lynch, Hardy, Chris Lane, Ryan Hurd, Lany, and more. Albert’s catalog includes several chart-topping hits, including “She’s Got A Way With Words” (Blake Shelton), “If The Boot Fits” and “Happens Like That” (Granger Smith), “Rednecker” (Hardy), and more.
The songwriter came to Concord via the company’s purchase of Downtown Music’s publishing catalog earlier this year.
Brad Kennard, SVP of A&R in Nashville, says: “We’re incredibly honored that we are able to continue to represent the great works that Andy has created, as well as those to come. He’s an undisputed rising star who’s on a path to becoming one of the best in the business. We couldn’t be prouder to work alongside such a brilliant songwriter, who also happens to be one of the best human beings around.”
Albert will end 2021 with a multi-week No. 1 song on country radio, “Thinking ‘Bout You,” performed by Dustin Lynch featuring Mackenzie Porter. Currently, the track has reached the top spot on Billboard Country Airplay for its second consecutive week. Since its release, “Thinking ‘Bout You” peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and No. 30 on the Hot 100 chart. Albert earned a previous No. 1 radio single with Lynch as a co-writer on the 2020 Platinum hit “Good Girl.”
Most recently, Albert co-wrote four tracks on Dan + Shay’s fourth studio album Good Things, including “Lying,” “One Direction,” “Let Me Get Over Her,” and their latest single “Steal My Love,” which is currently charting in the top 40 on country radio.
“I am thrilled that Andy has entrusted Concord with his catalog of songs. He is a gifted songwriter and storyteller. We are committed to supporting songwriters like Andy, recognizing the hits he’s made and investing in the ones to come. I know the combination of Concord’s seasoned Creative team and Andy’s sheer talent will be a force in Nashville,” says Jim Selby, Chief Publishing Executive at Concord.
“I couldn’t be more excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Concord,” adds Albert. “Brad [Kennard] has assembled one of the best teams in Nashville and I’m grateful to be part of the family.”
The twofold agreement was negotiated on behalf of Concord by Duff Berschback, EVP of Legal and Business Affairs. Albert was represented by Chip Petree of Ritholz, Levy, & Fields LLP in Nashville.
Jimmie Allen Talks His Banner Year, Building His Business, & Fostering Talent Early [Interview]
/by LB CantrellJimmie Allen. Photo: Shea Flynn
2021 was good to country star Jimmie Allen.
This year the multi-Platinum singer-songwriter released his latest star-studded collaboration album, Bettie James Gold Edition, and currently has a top 10 single with Brad Paisley on “Freedom Was A Highway.” He joined both Paisley and Nelly on their respective tours, and recently announced he will hit the road on his own headlining tour, the “Down Home Tour 2022,” in February.
Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley on the set of the “Freedom Is A Highway” music video. Photo: JT Colston
The “Make Me Want To” singer also took home several big trophies this year, including the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award and the CMA New Artist of the Year honor. He also received the only country nomination in an all-genre category for the upcoming Grammy Awards, and will be competing for Best New Artist at the January ceremony.
While Allen was visibly honored by the wins at both the ACM and CMA Awards, he says it wasn’t something he was focused on at the top of the year. “I never start a year saying ‘I want to win this award and that award.’ My goal every year is to make an impact and widen my platform to where I can help other artists.”
Helping other artists has been a big part of Allen’s work over the last few years. At only 36-years-old, Allen has launched multiple businesses and regularly shines a spotlight on rising artists. He believes it’s better for him to bring up his peers and protégés now while he’s on the rise, as opposed to starting entertainment companies when he’s hit the crest of the career. It’s a strategy he’s observed from hip-hop culture.
“I love the way that hip-hop culture did it, especially Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne signed Drake and Nicki Minaj. Drake signed The Weeknd and took him out. It’s all about using your platform to break your artists,” Allen says. “If you sign someone, you’re investing. The more successful they become, the more successful your business becomes. I’m trying to take that same approach and do it in the country world.”
Earlier this year, Allen established Bettie James Music Publishing, a publishing venture with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, and signed his frequent collaborator and bass player Tate Howell.
Pictured (L-R): Leo Brooks (of Neon Union), Aaron Benward, Jimmie Allen, Andrew Millsaps (of Neon Union). Photo: Courtesy of JAB Entertainment
A few weeks back Allen announced JAB Entertainment, a full-service management and production company he launched alongside partners John Marks and Aaron Benward. The company’s first signing for the company is Neon Union, a duo comprised of Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps that was featured on the track “Livin’ Man” on Bettie James Gold Edition. Neon Union will join Allen on the “Down Home Tour 2022.”
“When I was first getting started I had other artists and songwriters reaching out, but I wasn’t in a position to help,” Allen says. “You can only help others after you help yourself. You can’t pull somebody up if you’re not up. But I eventually got to the point where I could help.”
In addition to his music and business ventures, the multi-hyphenate entertainer also found time to publish his first children’s book My Voice Is a Trumpet this year, as well as collaborate with Elton John on The Lockdown Sessions, launch his own Bettie James Fest music festival, and serve as Executive Music Producer for the Netflix series Titletown High.
Allen also competed on the 30th season of Dancing With The Stars, and even reached the quarterfinals. He says the gig was an opportunity to expose more people not only to his music, but to country music in general.
“For me, it’s all about expanding and reaching people that don’t listen to country radio. I tell people all the time: my music is never going to change. I’m always going to be a country artist, I’m always going to have songs on country radio, I’m always going to be at country award shows and country festivals. But how do we get people that only listen to pop to know who Jimmie Allen is?
Jimmie Allen celebrates Platinum success on “Make Me Want To” and multi-Platinum success on “Best Shot.” Photo: ABC/Paula Lobo
“How do we get, not just for my music, but [the music of all] country artists to new markets? You have to place yourself there. They have to see you,” Allen says. “You have to come in first as a person—because that’s what they got to see on Dancing With The Stars. They saw Jimmie Allen, the person. Jimmie Allen the person warms them up to check out my music.”
When it comes to Allen’s Grammy nomination, he sees it as another chance to represent country music on a global stage.
“I didn’t even realize it until my publicist told me that it was an all-genre category. For me it says a lot about country music and about where we are,” Allen shares. “This Grammy nomination isn’t about winning. It’s about being the face of country music. If people can see that country music has accepted me, other people will feel comfortable getting in this business, whether it’s on the artist side or the business side.”
As for 2022, the sky is the limit for Allen.
When asked about his goals, he lists securing a record deal for Neon Union, executing a successful headlining tour, pushing “Freedom Is A Highway” as far as it will go on the charts, and continuing to build his brand and businesses.
“My biggest goal, though, is continuing to motivate people. That’s my goal for every show. I want people to leave a Jimmie Allen concert becoming better people than they were when they walked in, More inspired to love themselves, to make sacrifices, and take risks to achieve their goals,” he says.
Although he’s humble about his Grammy nomination, Allen wants to bring a win home in January. “Let’s bring this Grammy back to Nashville!” the entertainer says with a laugh.
To watch Allen compete in the Best New Artist category, as well as other Nashville acts vie for Grammy wins, tune in to the Grammy Awards on on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+ at 8 – 11:30 p.m. ET.
Superstar Manager Ken Kragen Dies
/by Robert K OermannKen Kragen
Manager, promoter, author, TV producer, speaker and humanitarian Ken Kragen died in L.A. on Tuesday (Dec. 14) at age 85.
Kragen managed such top music stars as Trisha Yearwood, Lionel Richie, Harry Chapin, Dottie West, Travis Tritt, Olivia Newton-John, Burt Reynolds, The Bee Gees, The Smothers Brothers and, most famously, Kenny Rogers. Using his leverage with superstars Richie and Rogers, he organized the Grammy Award winning anthem “We Are the World” in 1985. Billed as by USA For Africa, this was an all-star charity recording that became one of the biggest selling singles of all time.
Early in his career, he managed folk-pop artist Harry Chapin (1942-1981). Noted for such hits as “Taxi” (1972) and “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1974), Chapin was notable for his charity work. Kragen applied this ethos for his own career following Chapin’s untimely death in a car accident.
He became the executive producer of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV series. (1967-69). This is when he met Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, who guested on an episode. He subsequently produced the syndicated series Rollin’ on the River (1971-73) starring the band. This marked the beginning of his long and profitable relationship with Rogers.
With Kragen’s guidance, the singer rose to pop-country superstardom via a series of 1970s and 1980s hits such as “Lucille,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” “You Decorated My Life,” “Coward of the County,” “Lady” (penned by Richie), “We’ve Got Tonight” (with Sheena Easton) and “Islands in the Stream” (with Dolly Parton). Kragen also negotiated a string of top-rated TV movies starring Rogers.
In 1985, he was approached by Harry Belafonte to raise funds for African famine relief. Kragen assembled a star-studded cast to record “We Are the World,” co-written by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. In addition to Rogers, Richie, Belafonte and Jackson, the singers included Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Waylon Jennings, Paul Simon, Dionne Warwick, Huey Lewis, Kim Carnes, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Hall & Oates, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, James Ingram, Al Jarreau, Jefffrey Osborne, Lindsey Buckingham, Sheila E, Dan Aykroyd and more. It raised more than $64 million.
The following year, Kragen organized Hands Across America. This involved creating a human chain of 6.5 million people holding hards, stretching across the continent. Celebrities involved included Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Jerry Lewis, Ronald Reagan, Tony Danza, Fred Rogers, David Copperfield, Michael J. Fox, Walter Payton, Kathleen Turner, Bill Clinton, Lee Greenwood,George Burns, Tony Dorsett, Don Johnson, Bob Seger, Charlene Tilton, Dudley Moore, Richard Dreyfus, Kenny Loggins, Robin Williams, John Stamos, Chewbacca, Mickey Mouse and C-3PO, as well as Kenny Rogers, Belafonte, Jackson and Warwick. It benefitted U.S. hunger charities. The effort raised an estimated $15 million.
In 2010, he founded HomeAid.net, an annual campaign to combat homelessness. Kragen also worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the NAACP and other charities. He was presented with the United Nations Peace Medal.
In 1992, he and Quincy Jones co-produced part of the Inauguration festivities for President Bill Clinton. He portrayed himself in the 1996 TV movie The Late Shift. In 2004, Kragen produced the movie 12 Dogs of Christmas, which has since sold more than a million DVDs.
Ken Kragen was the author of the 1994 book Life Is a Contact Sport: Ten Great Career Strategies That Work. He documented his time with Chapin in the 1970 photo book On the Road With Harry Chapin.
In later years, he became a convention speaker, an event organizer and a consultant to a number of corporations and non profits. He taught at UCLA, notably a popular course titled “Stardom Strategies for Musicians.”
Kragen is survived by his wife Cathy Worthington; daughter cinematographer Emma Kragen; his sister Robin Merritt; brothers-in-law David and Mark Worthington, along with several nieces and nephews.
Donations in remembrance of Kragen can be made here.
Brad Paisley To Step In As Guest Host For ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ On Dec. 29
/by Lorie HollabaughBrad Paisley
Brad Paisley is set to step in as guest host on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in an episode airing on Wednesday, Dec. 29.
The appearance marks Paisley’s first time hosting the daytime show, but his seventh visit overall. Cary Elwes (A Castle for Christmas) and Tori Kelly (Sing 2 and children’s book, The Curly Girl Blues) are the featured guests on the day’s show, along with 11-year-old singer and guitar player Champ Jaxon.
“I was so honored Ellen asked me to guest host during her final season,” shares Paisley. “It shows so much belief… letting someone host a show that’s going off the air anyways.”
The hosting gig wraps a busy year for Paisley, who over the weekend presented the Harmony Award to the musicians of the Nashville Symphony during their annual Symphony Ball. This year, he also launched his own American Highway Bourbon brand this in collaboration with Bardstown Bourbon Company.
The George Jones Museum & Restaurant Closes Permanently
/by Lydia FarthingThe George Jones Restaurant, Museum and Rooftop. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
The George Jones Restaurant, Museum and Rooftop has announced that it will be closing its doors permanently.
Located on downtown Nashville’s 2nd Avenue, the museum first opened in 2015 to honor the late country legend George Jones, as well as provide a place for his many fans to enjoy food and live music. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum has struggled like many other businesses.
The George Jones Restaurant, Museum and Rooftop. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
“It has been a difficult 2 years for so many-our company has been no different. From the pandemic all the way through to the 2nd Ave. bombing one year ago—we have fought for what is right for our loyal staff and local partners. As many business owners know, between the workforce shortages and difficulty with consistency of products, it is a challenge day to day (to say the least) to make a business viable,” the museum shared on social media.
“For these reasons, it is with a heavy heart that we announce we are closing The George Jones Entertainment Venue after a beautiful run. The museum and all of its contents are being handled with care. There will be more to come on where this exhibit will land next,” the post continued. “We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of the fans, guests, staff (present and past) local partners and friends that have come through our doors over the last few years. We feel so fortunate to have shared terrific memories, food, drink and music.”