The Star
Charity fest back on stage
January 26, 2005
Los Angeles – We are the World, the pioneering all-star charity anthem that generated millions of dollars for African famine relief 20 years ago, is returning to the world stage – this time to raise money for Aids and tsunami victims.
The group USA For Africa will reissue the chart-topping, Grammy-winning single recorded by more than 40 superstars – among them Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder – on February 1 as part of a double DVD set.
The original single and the accompanying album have raised more than $60-million (about R360-million) since their 1985 release to help combat hunger in Africa.
Proceeds from the upcoming reissue will again be earmarked for famine relief, as well as for Aids treatment and prevention, plus disaster recovery in areas of East Africa devastated by the recent tsunamis, organisers said.
The double-disc set features four hours of footage from the landmark “We Are the World” recording session. It also includes two documentaries about the making of the song.
Inspired in part by the success of Bob Geldof’s Band Aid project, We Are the World was the brainchild of American singer-activist Harry Belafonte.
After seeing news footage of Ethiopian famine victims, Belafonte began enlisting stars to record a song whose royalties would go exclusively to relieve Africa’s food crisis. There were no artist or agent fees.
The occasion brought together 45 of the biggest names in the US music business to perform a seven-minute-plus ballad composed by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson.
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