Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer
WRIF Rocks Detroit | Everything That Rocks Ken Kragen, ‘We Are the World’ and ‘Hands Across America' Organizer, Dies at 85
  • Home
  • Latest Stories
        • Latest Stories

          • Rock News
          • Man Cave
          • Everything Detroit
          • Andy Green
        • Latest Rock News

  • On Air
        • Dave & Chuck The Freak

          • About
          • Home
          • Dave & Chuck The Freak Podcast
          • Dave & Chuck The Freak’s Tasty Bits
          • Peep Show
          • D&C Store
          • YouTube
        • Shows

          • Dave and Chuck the Freak
          • Jade Springart
          • Meltdown
          • Aimee Brooks
          • WRIF Weekends
          • Motor City Riffs
          • Midnight Metal
          • RIFF2
        • Recently Played

        • The RIFF Wants Your Feedback

          New Music Breakdown
  • Listen + Watch
        • Listen + Watch

          • Dave & Chuck The Freak Podcast
          • Dave & Chuck The Freak’s Tasty Bits
          • Dave & Chuck The Freak Peep Show
          • RIFF TV
          • Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown
          • Jade & Andy Podcast
          • Haunted Michigan with Meltdown
          • New Music Breakdown Poll
          • ROAR Around The Ring
          • All Podcasts
          • Photos
        • Podcasts

          wrif podcast logo
        • RIFF TV

          rifftv logo
        • Photos

          photos image
        • Latest Peep Shows

  • Contests
  • Events
  • Shop
        • Shop

          • The RIFF Store
          • Must Haves
        • WRIF Gear

        • Dave & Chuck The Freak Store

        • Must Haves

  • More
        • Connect

          • About WRIF | Contact Us
          • Ways To Rock With 101 WRIF
          • Download The Riff App
          • Join The WRIF CyberCrew
          • Dave & Chuck the Freak’s Daily Download
          • Beasley Best Community of Caring
          • Advertise
          • Careers
        • Join The Cybercrew

        • Advertise With RIFF

          image overlaid with text that reads advertise with us
        • 101 WRIF Rock Hall

Rock Dirt

  • Home
  • About
  • Articles

Rock Dirt

Rock Dirt

  • Home
  • About
  • Articles

Ken Kragen, ‘We Are the World’ and ‘Hands Across America’ Organizer, Dies at 85

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
December 15th, 2021 11:50 AM

Ken Kragen, whose entertainment career included numerous accolades including organizing USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” and “Hands Across America,” has died. He was 85.

Kragen’s death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by a family spokesperson who said he died in his home in Los Angeles yesterday (December 14) of natural causes.

Kragen’s decades-long career included being the manager for a number of high-profile musicians including Kenny Rogers, the Bee-Gees, Lionel Richie, Olivia Newton-John and others.

The Hollywood Reporter noted that Kragen was one of the driving forces in recruiting the diverse roster that made up USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” after being contacted by Harry Belafonte. Following the success of “We Are the World,” Kragen went on to help organize “Hands Across America,” which helped raise money for hunger and homeless initiatives.

 

Notable Celebrity Deaths in 2021

  • Hank Aaron

    Share

    Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

  • Larry King

    Share

    Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

  • Cloris Leachman

    Share

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

  • Christopher Plummer

    Share

    Jason Merritt/Getty Images

  • Mary Wilson

    Share

    Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

  • Larry Flynt

    Share

    Dan Callister/Onlline USA/Getty Images

  • Rush Limbaugh

    Share

    Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

  • Jessica Walter

    Share

    Jason Merritt/Getty Images

  • DMX

    Share

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

  • Joseph Siravo

    Share

    Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

  • Helen McCrory

    Share

    Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

  • Jim Steinman

    Share

    Larry Busacca/Getty Images

  • Olympia Dukakis

    Share

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

  • Tawny Kitaen

    Share

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

  • Charles Grodin

    Share

    Chris Hondros/Newsmakers/Getty Images

  • Kevin Clark

    Share

    Donald Weber/Getty Images

  • Gavin McLeod

    Share

    Gabe Palacio/ImageDirect/Getty Images

  • Jeff LaBar

    Share

    Ethan Miller/Getty Images

  • Joey Jordison

    Share

    Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

  • Dusty Hill

    Share

    Ian Gavan/Getty Images

  • Dennis Thomas

    Share

    Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

  • Markie Post

    Share

    Christopher Polk/Getty Images

  • Don Everly

    Share

    Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

  • Charlie Watts

    Share

    Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

  • Ed Asner

    Share

    Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

  • Norm Macdonald

    Share

    Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

  • Willie Garson

    Share

    John Sciulli/Getty Images

  • Peter Scolari

    Share

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock news blogger who's well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
WRIF Rocks Detroit | Everything That Rocks

Sign me up for the 101 WRIF Cybercrew email newsletter!

Join the 101 WRIF Cybercrew to get everything that rocks sent right to your inbox from The Riff! You’ll get updates on concerts and your favorite bands, along with exclusive chances to win. Plus news and stories from all around metro Detroit!

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
Category:
  • Celebs
  • Rock Dirt
Tags:
Celebrity Deaths

More Celebs

Detroit Pizza Pass Will Hook You Up With Free Stuff

Lions Guard Jonah Jackson Has Hilarious Mic’d Up Moment

How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce – An NFL Conspiracy Theory

Jared Goff and Dan Campbell Audition to be Third Host on ‘ManningCast’

The Unwritten Rules of Concert Going

Midnight Metal Playlist – June 23rd 2023

21 Years Ago Aaron Paul Starred in Korn Music Video

Matthew McConaughey to Host Free Seminar on the ‘Art of Livin’

5 Thoughts From An Out-Of-Towner After Trying Their First Coney

Detroit Lions Become Betting Favorite for Super Bowl 58

AI Bots Are Selling Nudes

Happy Birthday, Dan Campbell!

Golf Hottie Paige Spiranac Poses Nude in Tub of Golf Balls

Crobot: New Album On The Horizon, Touring with Steel Panther and Having Fun

Watch Rival Sons Live in the WRIF Studio

Learn the Lyrics to the Detroit Lions Fight Song

Jade’s Top Concerts in 2022

The Rams See Us Detroit Lions Fans

The Jade and Andy Show – Episode 1

Detroit Lions Get Shout Out From Metallica’s James Hetfield

Ghost Release Lyric Video for ‘Mary On A Cross’

Jade’s Top Rock Songs From 2022

The Pets of WRIF (as Characters of Seinfeld)

10 Things You Might Not Know About Jade

Dan Campbell Welcomes Metallica Back to Detroit

Things I Overheard at the Lions VS Packers Game

These Are The Best Rock n’ Roll Holiday Songs

How Much Will It Cost You To Have a Beer During a Pistons Game?

5 Movies That Gave Me Nightmares

Blink-182 is Coming – Jade’s Top 10 Tracks

Aiden Hutchinson Steals the ‘Hard Knocks’ Show

6 Sports I Discovered Thanks To ESPN8 The Ocho

6 Things To Do If Your Power Is Out

Ketchup On A Coney?

Mackinac Island – Is It Worth The Hype?

12 Metro Detroit Dive Bars To Check Out

Hot Dog Seltzer is Here Just in Time for Summer?!

4 Signs Your A/C is on the Fritz!

Blake’s Farms to Purchase Erwin Orchards in South Lyon

Happy Birthday, Rainn Wilson!

Jade’s New Year’s Resolutions

RiffTV Presents: New Music Breakdown

Happy Birthday, Kate McKinnon!

Monster Crab Wants To Go Golfing

RiffTV Presents: New Music Breakdown

WRIF Jocks Share Their Favorite Holiday Movies!

RiffTV Presents: New Music Breakdown

Load More
Beasley Media Group
Download our station app

Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before!

Download on the App Store Download on the Google Play
Newsletter sign up

Don't miss on pre-sales, member-only contests and member only events.

WRIF Rocks Detroit Newsletter
About
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • EEO
  • Terms and Conditions
  • FCC Public File
  • FCC Applications
Connect
  • About WRIF | Contact Us
  • Beasley Best Community of Caring
  • General Contest Rules
  • Contest Rules Archive
  • Listen Help
  • Learn How To Advertise On Detroit Radio
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram