Stars gather to cover 'We Are the World' for Haiti
LOS ANGELES (AP) - February 1, 2010
Among those scheduled to perform on the revamped track the night
after the Grammy Awards were Akon, Jason Mraz, Bono, Wyclef Jean,
Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Usher, Toni Braxton and Lady
Gaga. The session will be held at the same recording studio where
the original was cut - the historic A&M complex in Hollywood.
Quincy Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week
that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery from the
deadly Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
The session was all the talk at Sunday night's Grammy
festivities. Music producer RedOne said being asked to participate
was "the biggest honor a musician can ever do."
"Having Quincy, our father of music ... and Lionel Richie
asking me to contribute and help, I said of course, because this is
not about me," he said. "It's about Haiti."
Written by Michael Jackson and Richie, the original "We Are the
World" thundered up the charts when it was released on the radio
and in record stores in March 1985.
An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the
night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to
record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars,
including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Ray Charles,
Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper.
The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, a
nonprofit organization founded by the singers to fund hunger relief
in African nations.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-02-01-10 1144EST