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, Cyndi Lauper, Rogers, and many other pop music stars of the day. According to Ken Kragen, 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.