USA for Africa

 Song sung by supergoup USA for Africa in 1985  Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie  Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian

 Sales are over 20 million copies  One of fewer than 30 singles to have sold more than 10 millions copies world wide

 After “Do They Know It’s Christmas” Harry Belafonte came up with idea for a benefit single also for African famine relief

 Historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time

 Recorded January 28, 1985  Released on March 7, 1985  Topped music charts around the world  Fastest selling American pop single in history

 Fans enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing together on one track

 Won Grammy Awards, American Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award  Music video, home video, special edition magazine, books, posters, shirts  Raised over $63 million from promotional items

 Harry Belefonte wanted to have money raised by United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa)  He also wanted to set aside money to help eliminate hunger in the U.S. also

 They started with Kenny Rogers and Lionel Ritchie on the list of artists  Added Stevie Wonder for more “name value”

 Richie contacted Michael Jackson- Jackson had just released Thriller  Jackson said he wanted to work on writing the song as well as singing

 It was top secret that they were going to record the song- they could not let the location out or else the artists would not have participated

 Night of the American Music Award ceremony  45 of America’s top musicians participated  50 artists had to be turned away

 Sign posted: Please check your egos at the door  Stevie Wonder greeted everyone and told them that if it was not recorded in one take that he and Ray Charles would drive everyone home

 They changed a part of the lyrics after several hours of recording- and at that point Waylon Jennings left the studio  The lyrics were changed to a line in Swahili and he said no “good ole boy” every sang in Swahili

 Recording started around 10:30 pm and finished around 8 am

 Opens with Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, and Billy Joel singing the first verse

 Michael Jackson and Diana Ross sang together next  Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau sang second verse  Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall sing second chorus

 Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes next  Bob Dylan and Ray Charles sang a full chorus  Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen sang a duet  Ray Charles and James Ingram adlib at times

Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles

 Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E, Bob Geldof, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Smokey Robinson

 Record became the fastest selling American pop single in history  Became the best selling single of the year  Song became the biggest single of the 1980s

 Biggest selling single in both US and pop music history  First single to be multi platinum  20 million sales of the single

 Record of the Year  Song of the Year  Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal  Best Music Video

 Cargo jets carrying food, medicine, clothing  Stopped in New York, picked up high protein biscuits, high protein vitamines, medicine, tents, blankets, and refrigeration equipment

 Harry Belafonte- visited Sudan that same month  Since its release- the song has raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes

 90% of money to go to birth control, food production, African relief  10% to domestic hunger and homeless programs in the uS

 Recovery and development projects were launched (agriculture, fishing, water management, manufacturing, reforestation)  Helped in Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali

 Performed together at Live Aid  At Bill Clinton’s inaugural celebration there was a performance (1993) with Clinton, Chelsea, and Hillary all singing it with many performers (Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, etc)