RICHIE, KRAGEN BACK TOGETHER

Singer Lionel Richie and manager Ken Kragen are a team again.

Kragen had announced Feb. 5 that his duties with the Hands Across America charity project--set for May 25--would prevent his giving adequate attention to Richie’s busy career, but Harriet Sternberg, vice president of Kragen & Co., said Wednesday that the two men have decided to continue working together.

“Ken didn’t want to shortchange anybody or anything,” Sternberg said. “I think he had reached a point with Hands Across America where he wanted to give it his all and he felt it was only fair to tell Lionel about the extent of that commitment.

“I think that they have since both taken a second look at the situation and realized that adjustments can be made in their schedules to allow them to continue the relationship.”

Sternberg discounted speculation that the break was caused by tensions growing out of the “We Are the World” benefit campaign that was largely guided Richie and Kragen. She said that the two remained in close contact during the split, although another source close to the singer said Richie had interviewed several people as part of a vigorous management search.