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Kenneth W. Hatley  

Executive Bi

Personal Career History  of Ken Hatley (scroll down)

An International Executive with a specialty in Strategic Alliances Development, Production, and Distribution for the Corporate and Professional Media Industry.

.                                      Special skills include:

  Ø      Defining and developing "niche" or specialty markets,

  Ø      Corporate to Corporate Strategic Alliances,

  Ø      Joint Ventures,

  Ø      Non-traditional & traditional distribution outlets,

Ø      Alliances for media related products on a national and international level.  

Ø Media Production and Live or Broadcast Event development, consultation and celebrity endorsements, including performances and appearances or product spokespersons.

There have been major successes supporting both foreign and domestic companies in creating a U.S. position and developing market share. These companies have benefited dramatically from a rapid deployment to establish presence, profile the market place, build operations and develop market distribution. Conversely, domestic companies have been supported in setting up distribution representation in Europe and Asia.

This high profile corporate success is founded on a highly successful background in the highest echelons of the recording and production profession of music, film, video, DVD and software. Early career achievement as a musician and composer, working with many of the top recording artists including:  Richie Havens, Four Tops, Jethro Tull, Razzy Bailey, Willie Nelson, Johnny & June Cash, The Carter Family, The Drifters amongst others.  This was followed by the development of career management for many recording stars including Mark Olsen of Rare Earth, Mark Lindsay, Authoress Susie Nelson, and  Razzy Bailey, where the partnership achieved 7 “top 10”  hits. 

 In the late 1980’s Ken came to the attention of legendary Chris Blackwell and Denny Cordell, founders of Island Records. He was brought into the executive level of the production industry, and trained in special markets distribution and strategic alliances.  This meant developing and co - branding products developed on a "theme" with various corporate enterprises, retail markets, media distributors and national non-profit organizations. Ken was highly responsible for the breaking of "World Music" and Reggae in the U.S. markets. His career continued moving upward, reaching and succeeding working amongst the highest executive levels.

These included Universal Studios, Polygram, Polydor, Verve, Island Records, Mango and other such world-renowned companies as MAWA Film & Media where he developed their North American operations and served as President of MAWA Film & Media USA.

His contacts with major name celebrities, distribution markets and corporate executives are vast. He has consulted and provided services for governments, Heads of State, and International business with such companies as Technics, Panasonic, Phillips, International Digital, Pilot Island, Polygram and all affiliates, HBN Interactive, plus many more. He is well known and respected for his accomplishments and has been listed in the Who's Who of America.

 

The Beginning

Toured as musician & Road Manager with various well known celebrities and entertainers, which included Anthony Maner, the first Caucasian to work with the "Chittlin Circuit" Black R & B venues.  We began our career working the beaches of the Carolinas, Virginia, an Georgia. Our shows were with such artists as Sam & Dave, The Dixie Cups, The Shirelles, Eddie Floyd, Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham, Laverne Baker, Eddie Floyd, Eddie Billups  (Cool Jerk ), Jackie Wilson, Spyder Turner, Ben E. King, The Tams and the Drifters among many others . Anthony was one of the finest singers and showmen that ever graced the music industry, and  became the first Caucasian ever to be brought in as part of an all Black major name R & B group, The Original Drifters show, and with whom we had many fond memories, and many fearful times encountering the Ku Klux Klan and others that were hostile to us because we were working with Black artists and had long hair.

 We were ganged upon, and beaten more than once because of our music, beliefs and appearance. That was a time when segregation was still rampant, in both the north and south.  Often we could not all stay in the same motels, as they were segregated at the time. It was an experience that I hope this country never goes through again. Even though times were hard and some I would never want to go through again, however, it was also some of the best experiences of my career, and I owe everything I have succeeded at, to those days of traveling the deep south with my partner Anthony, and the old R & B tours.    During the riots in Atlanta Anthony and I were taken in by Black families and hidden out in the projects, not because of fear or problems with the Blacks that lived in the projects, but because of the white mobs and police.

In 1967 we were playing Charleston, SC, living in a condemned motel that our manager owned behind his club in Charleston "The Azalea Room", with no hot water.  We were working our butts off almost every night, at the end of the week he might give us 5 dollars or if we were lucky, $20.00.  Though we were making great money, he justified this by charging us rent, and making us pay for the gas to gigs.  Anthony and I had enough, and on a trip with him through Atlanta and $10.00 between us, we got out on the square in downtown Atlanta. We talked our way into the Piedmont Hotel, called an agent Nat Foster, who came up and actually put money in our pocket and got us back on track. God Bless Nat, where ever he is today, a wonderful man and wonderful agent.  During those times in Charleston, there was a band playing at the A & N club named the Chocolate Papers, which later became DR Hook. The Chocolate Papers, Anthony and myself were the only ones in the entire city of Charleston with long hair and partaking of things that made you feel good.  We became fast friends and to this date, George Cummings (Founder & Guitarist), drummer and Chocolate Papers founder Popeye Phillips, Anthony and I are still the best of friends.

In 1967 we moved to Nashville, that is when I met and became friends with many of the great writers and artists such as Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Tompall Glaser, Kinky Friedman (whom I later played with in Washington Dc & New York areas), Shel Silverstein, Johnny Darrell, Kent Westbury, Vince Matthews, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Kris Kristofferson, Eddie Rabbit, Bud Reneau, Harlan Howard, Cowboy Jack Clement, Captain Midnight, Bob Webster, and Jim Casey. That is also when I got my first deal as a writer and the world of publishing became a reality. These friends opened a lot of doors for me as a young musician and writer. To them and all  of the R & B artists that I worked with,   because of their belief in me and encouragement, many of them have passed on from this life, including Johnny Cash, Vince, June Carter Cash, Anita and Helen Carter, Faron, Harlan and Atlantic Records founder Jessie Stone, who wrote such classics as Shake Rattle & Roll, Good Golly Miss Molly, Idaho, Smack Dab In The Middle, Money Honey and others, it is to all of those people I had the wonderful experience to work with and get to know, that I owe the successes of my career.-Ken Hatley

Kenneth W. Hatley 486 West Osceola Street Clermont, FL, 34711  Email:Khatley121@aol.com or khatley@khainc.com el: (USA) (352) 394 8761 Mobile (USA) (407) 256 7238  Website: http://www. khainc.com

  Ken Hatley Personal Career History

Ken Hatley - A veteran music & media  Creative Executive and Producer, whose experience include visual and music production, DVD,  distribution and management.  

Ken began his career as a  Musician and Composer who has written songs with and had songs recorded by such artists as the Four Tops, Charlie Daniels, Richie Havens, Dickey Lee, Chris Chandler and  Razzy Bailey.  He has also composed and produced music for Film Soundtracks for such Directors and Producers as Robert Wise, George Romero and Ralph R. Clemente. 

As a Manager / Executive Producer he has been involved in achieving seven number one hits and several top ten while working with Country Star Razzy Bailey. In 1989, Bailey and Hatley won single of the year at the Cashbox Music Awards for the single “But You Will”.  Album credits include legendary Delta Blues Singer “Big Joe Williams” for PolyGram Records, Harcourt Brace Janovich “Songs Of The World” album, Jazz Recording Artist “Chris Chandler” Lover’s Holiday album Playin’ Dude Records, Richie Havens “Sealed With A Kiss” & ”I Know How To Love”. 

 He has toured serving in various capacities with such Artists as Jethro Tull, The Four Tops, Temptations, Black Oak Arkansas, Roberta Flak, The Drifters and many others. 

He has also served as co producer of AMOA’s Music Awards and celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Juke Box, Jerry Lewis Telethon 25th Anniversary Special’s “Kids for Kids” music segments  and two music videos on Country Music recording artist Razzy Bailey.

 In addition to working with musical artists, he managed Authoress Susie Nelson, whose biography of her father Willie Nelson was a "Number 1 "Best Seller" on the National Book Charts, including NY Times for 35 weeks.

 Educational and Community activities include:

Developed course & Lecture series for Valencia Community College Film Production Program and serves on Board Of Advisors for the 10th consecutive year.

Lecturer at Rotterdam Conservatory of Music and RB Institute of Recording and Production, Rotterdam Holland.

 

Kenneth W. Hatley 486 West Osceola Street Clermont, FL, 34711  Email:Khatley121@aol.com or khatley@khainc.com el: (USA) (352) 394 8761 Mobile (USA) (407) 256 7238  Website: http://www. khainc.com

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Copyright: 2001 KHA, Inc.
Ken Hatley & Associates, Inc.
486 West Osceola St.
Clermont, FL  34711
Tel USA (352) 394 8761 Fax (352) 394 8296