The song We Are The World - USA For Africa will always affect me deeply. I get goosebumps every single time I hear it, even if I play it over and over, which I do, quite often. Harry Belafonte originally wanted to put together a benefit concert featuring black musicians to raise money for Africa. Ken Kragen (who became president of the organization United Support of Artists for Africa) thought an American version of Band Aid would be a better idea. Ken Kragen is an owner of a personal management and television production company. One of his clients was Lionel Ritchie, so he called him with the idea. Lionels wife talked to Steve Wonders wife and arranged to line him up for the song. Quicy Jones was lined up as the producer, and Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie were the song writers. The recording took place on the night of the American Music Awards, January 28th, 1985. This was the perfect way to assure that most of the artists would all be free on a single date. The instrumental tracks were recorded ahead of time and sent out to the interested musicians. With each tape, he sent a letter that stated they should check their ego at the door. When they arrived in the studio, there was a piece of tape on the floor for each person to stand on, arranged around six microphones in a semi-circle. 800,000 copies arrived in stores on Tuesday, March 7th 1985. There were sold out by the first weekend. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on March 23rd, at number 21. At the time it was the highest debuting single since John Lennons Imagine and was number one in three weeks, which at the time was the fastest rising chart-topper since Elton Johns Island Girl in 1975. It was the eighth consecutive year the Lionel Ritchie had written a number one song. It won Grammys in 1985 for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Dan Aykroyd also sings on We Are the World. You can see him in the top row in the video. Dan Aykroyd was in the Blues Brothers was a band before it was a SNL sketch (and then a movie), hence he was a musician. VH-1s Pop-Up Video states hes there to represent the American film industry, Just look.........just LOOK at the artists who made this beautiful and deeply meaningful song with a purpose that is still so needed today....... How can we NOT be touched by the magnitude of this endeavor? I miss Michael..........:( Dan Aykroyd Harry Belafonte Lindsey Buckingham Kim Carnes Ray Charles Phil Collins - Drums and Vocal Bob Dylan Sheila E. Bob Geldof Hall and Oates James Ingram Jackie Jackson LaToya Jackson Marlon Jackson Michael Jackson Randy Jackson Tito Jackson Al Jarreau Waylon Jennings (Pop-Up Video stated that he left the recording session due to a dispute over the lyrics.) Billy Joel Cyndi Lauper Huey Lewis and the News Kenny Logins Bette Midler Willie Nelson Jeffery Osborne Steve Perry The Pointer Sisters Lionel Richie Smokey Robinson Kenny Rogers Diana Ross Paul Simon Bruce Springsteen Tina Turner Dionne Warwick Stevie Wonder Michael Boddicker - Synthesizers, Programming Paulinho da Costa - Percussion Louis Johnson - Bass Quincy Jones - Producer Michael Omartian - Keyboards, Producer Greg Phillinganes - Keyboards John Robinson - Drums
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:24:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015