Stars like Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion, and rappers including Kanye West and Snoop Dogg, walked through the same door on Monday to record a new version of the iconic pop hit song "We Are The World", that 25 years ago was used by a group of A-list singers who came together to raise money for the famine in Africa. The latest glittering lineup was called together in the last few weeks, this time to respond to the devastating Haitian earthquake.
None of the singers of the original song were invited to participate in the update, which was recorded at the same Hollywood studio, again under the oversight of Quincy Jones and the song's co-writer Lionel Richie.
Classical tenor Josh Groban said, "Everybody left their ego at the door," referring to a sign that Jones hung in the studio during the original session on the old A&M Records lot on January 28, 1985.
Neil Young was honored Friday in Los Angeles as the 2010 Person of the Year by MusiCares, an organization that provides emergency care and financial assistance to musicians in need.
The largest tribute gala to date for MusiCares, the night featured a slew of A-list stars performing Neil Young classics, including Dave Matthews, Jack Black, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Elton John, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Red Hot Chili Peppers and James Taylor, a former recipient of the award. (Video below)
A collection of the great and good from the world of poetry gathered in London for a live poetry reading to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown used the occasion to announce that its government had begun an unprecedented effort to purchase all the corrugated iron available in whole of Britain to ship to Haiti for housing people before the hurricane season arrives. The shipments will depart for Haiti this week.
As America breaks the record for generosity with text messages for Haiti, we can draw inspiration today from another milestone in giving, a quarter century ago. On this day in 1985, the biggest stars in American music gathered in one studio to record the song, We Are the World, and their efforts, on behalf of African famine relief, became the fastest-selling American pop single in history.
Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones, the song was the vision of Harry Belafonte, who wanted to assemble a group of American musical heavy-weights united for the purpose of making a record for charity, one year after a million people died of starvation in Ethiopia.
Actor John Travolta, who is also a pilot, flew himself and his wife along with four tons of vital medical supplies, doctors, ministers and food to Haiti on the star's private jet.
He said it was similar to Hurricane Katrina, when he needed to be of service and volunteer to use his jet to help others.