He's in control of the 9,000 remaining tickets to tomorrow's Michael Jackson service at Staples Center, and you can bet everyone wants his cell phone number.
He's Ken Sunshine, and sharp New Yorkers will know him for several reasons.
From 1990-1993, Sunshine was chief of staff for Mayor David Dinkins. He went on to form his own powerhouse public relations firm, Sunshine, Sachs & Associates, which specializes in many high-profile clients.
The mouthpiece for Barbra Streisand, Leo DiCaprio, Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, Sunshine also represents several unions, including 1199 SEIU and the Transport Workers Union Local 100. He also is apparently good friends with the Rev. Al Sharpton, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Once listed in New York Magazine's Most Powerful People in New York City, today his power extends from coast to coast. More than 1.6 million people registered to attend the Jackson memorial; Sunshine controls the list.
The Staples Center holds 20,000 people; 11,000 tickets were issued through the lottery and Sunshine gets to make the call on the rest, which are devoted to friends, family, press and VIPs.
Airports and hotels are bracing for the throngs of fans who are descending on the arena for the Tuesday morning tribute service even though only 8,750 pairs of lottery-drawn tickets were divided among the 1.6 million fans who entered the pool.
The 90-minute ceremony that may feature performances by Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys will draw legions of fans from across the country and be broadcast on five television networks. A-listers Stevie Wonder and Timberlake are also rumored to be among the performers -- and longtime MJ friend Elizabeth Taylor will reportedly deliver the eulogy.
The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.
Sunshine could not be reached for comment. Celebs only account for about 10 percent of his clients, but those are the cases that garner him all the attention, according to the Wall Street Journal.
