Legendary hitmakers Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are recruiting a new set of entertainers during the Grammy Awards to remake the global megahit “We Are the World” that will benefit earthquake victims in Haiti.
Superstars Usher, John Legend and soul legend, Natalie Cole are the earliest to commit to staying a day after the Grammys to re-record the 1985 song that broke industry records, scored multiple Grammy awards and raised tens of millions for African famine relief.
“We are the World” was originally written 25 years ago by the late Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. It attracted a constellation of stars, including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, the Pointer Sisters, the Jacksons (including La Toya), Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Harry Belefonte, Bette Midler and many others.
The new batch of stars will be asked to stay overnight and record “We are the World” at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the event and the recording will be turned into a song and video just like its earlier incarnation. The King of Pop will surely cast a large shadow over the proceedings.
“We are the World” became the fastest selling pop single in American history and went on to become the biggest selling global song of all time.
–terry shropshire
