A graduate of Harvard Business School, Ken Kragen’s illustrious career far transcends the music and entertainment industries where he has spent many incredibly successful years. He has managed some of the world’s most important entertainers, including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Olivia Newton John, The Bee Gees, Burt Reynolds, The Smothers Brothers and many others. He was the creator and organizer of the historic humanitarian projects “We Are the World”, “Hands Across America”, and Cisco System’s “NetAid”. Amazingly over 95% of the acts he managed have become stars, and 90% of the projects he created and spearheaded have achieved success.
During the past few years, Kragen has devoted an increasing amount of his time to teaching, speaking and writing as well as consulting work for leading corporations and many non-profit organizations. He has done work for Cisco Systems, New York Life Insurance, Eastman Kodak, The Hollywood Reporter and the Country Radio Broadcasters Association to name a few.
Kragen has also produced a variety of film and television projects, ranging from the ground-breaking “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS to Kenny Rogers five ‘”Gambler” movies, and numerous series, mini-series and films. In 2004, Kragen produced the “12 Dogs of Christmas” – a live action, full length feature film based on his daughter, Emma’s, best-selling children’s book. (www.12DogsofChristmas.com) To date this project has sold 600,000 books and 1,200,000 DVDs. Then, in 2012 he produced the sequel to that amazingly successful independent film, this time for Sony Pictures. Titled “12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue” and like the original has a long life as a wonderful Christmas treat for the whole family.
Ken and his friend Quincy Jones produced a portion of the 1992 Presidential Inauguration for President Bill Clinton and Kragen recently helped stage a national campaign that got 1.3 million kids to stand up and take a pledge against bullying. He has written the best-selling book “Life is a Contact Sport” which is filled with unique and well tested career advice.
