LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Publicist Kenneth Reynolds died in Los Angeles from complications stemming from a chronic kidney condition, according to Billboard. A memorial celebration is reportedly planned.
Reynolds ran publicity firm Public Relations+, served as casting director for Brena Russell’s video for “Against the Law” and independent film “Silencio…” and was associate producer for the film “Wigger.” He had a longtime relationship with Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx), having once been their road manager and recently reunited with them after 35 years to executive produce their album Back To Now.
He handled publicity for acts like LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, The Jacksons, Stephanie Mills, Cheryl Lynn, Donna Summer, and Kool & The Gang.
“Ken was a giant in the business and we all loved him. It’s the end of an era,” Brenda Andrews, former senior VP/GM of music publisher Rondor Music International, told Billboard‘s Gail Mitchell.
Reynolds, a native of Chicago, who worked in marketing at Arista, PolyGram and CBS, is credited with launching Whitney Houston’s PR/marketing campaign for Arista in the 1980s.
