This is the largely untold story of the making of We Are The World--the most magnanimous song of all-time for charity, earning more than the equivalent of $200 million today--when 46 pop music stars showed up late at night on 28January1985 and all through the morning until the sun rose put worked together an epic recording to make a difference for Humanity.
- Michael Jackson
- Lionel Richie
- Stevie Wonder
- Paul Simon
- Kenny Rogers
- James Ingram
- Tina Turner
- Billy Joel
- Michael Jackson
- Diana Ross
- Dionne Warwick
- Willie Nelson
- Al Jarreau
- Bruce Springsteen
- Kenny Loggins
- Steve Perry
- Daryl Hall
- Huey Lewis
- Cyndi Lauper
- Kim Carnes
- Bob Dylan
- Ray Charles
- Stevie Nicks
- Harry Belafonte
- Lindsay Buckingham
- Donna Summer
- LaToya Jackson
- Bob Geldof
- Quincy Jones (as a conductor)
The story of how all this happened deserves to be re-told, although you too can watch the making on Netflix.
- In 1985, almost forty years ago, Harry Belafonte observed the British Band Aid's effort to fight famine in Africa, so thought this was something the USA should also do, and contacted Ken Kragen, American music manager, who at that time represented Lionel Richie.
- Quincy Jones was recruited, so they contacted Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to help co-write a song for charity with Richie.
- Essentially, they had picked the night of the American Music Awards, 28January1985, because a lot of singers would be in Los Angeles anyway, and they only had 26 days to do all this.
- Wonder was busy, so Richie and Jackson wrote the song, with Jones becoming the conductor.
- Beginning on January 22, tracks were laid down and planning proceeded, for a lot of stars had been invited, and soloists had to be selected, small groups next each other for the proper harmony, etc.
- Recording began the night of January 28 and people drifted in.
- Prince did not show up, and a replacement was necessary, which turned out to Huey Lewis (who said his legs were shaking during his few seconds contribution) and many stayed around until 8AM.
- Song was released on March 7 and sold 20 million.
- Ten of the 46 have since passed away, including Belafonte, Kragen, Tina Turner, two Pointer sisters, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, James Ingram and Kenny Rogers.
Here is a cartoon released today by Mike Luckovich.
With the fate of Trump's Georgia trial awaiting judgement, here are two more from Luckovich.-
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