We Are the World

In this episode – We Are The World . . .

“I lived less than three blocks away from A&M studios and didn’t even know what was happening,” Lori said to me while we watched the recently released Netflix special “The Greatest Night in Pop” - the documentary of the making of “We Are the World.”

"Check Your EGO At The Door!" Read the sign posted by Quincy Jones.

“We Are the World” is a 1985 charity single for African famine relief that included the voices of Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

The Greatest Night in Pop is the story of how it all came together, told by the people who made it happen, including the camera crew, engineers, assistants, and musicians like Lionel Richie, who served as an executive producer of the film. And despite its popularity, there are still origin stories that you probably didn’t know.

Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, the song was co-produced by Quincy Jones, and all came together with a large ensemble of popular musicians and artists under the name USA for Africa to perform the song. The recording occurred the night of January 28, 1985, and the single was released on March 7, 1985.

Have you ever wondered how two creative artists like Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson write a song together? The process they used was fascinating to watch. Richie began by tapping out a rhythm, while Jackson filled in the song by humming the tune, even though no lyrics had been written.

“We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa. Its main objective was to raise funds for humanitarian aid to Africa, specifically to alleviate famine in Ethiopia. This single was a huge success commercially and in raising awareness and funds for the cause. It raised over $75 million for humanitarian aid in Africa. The funds were distributed to various organizations working to combat hunger and poverty in the region.

If you don’t recall this release, please follow the link provided to watch the video. It's amazing how tapping out such a simple tune can have such a powerful impact on the world. That’s the power of music!

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

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