HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — An all-star lineup of celebrities gathered Monday for the “We Are the World” remake that will benefit victims of January’s devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Twenty five years after the original recording at Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M) in Hollywood, a diverse group of superstar artists gathered in the very same recording studio to re-record the world renowned song originally written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Quincy Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, is overseeing the remake with production assistance coming from Richie, Will.I.Am, RedOne and Rickey Minor.
Among the stars participating in the contemporary version were Carlos Santana, Orianthi, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Sugarland, Adam Levine, Jason Mraz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, The Jonas Brothers, T-Pain, Brian Wilson, Justin Bieber, Nicole Scherzinger, India.Arie, Julianne Hough, Mary Mary, Melanie Fiona, Bebe Winans, Mya, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Hamilton, Raphael Saadiq, Gladys Knight, Keri Hilson, Joel and Benji Madden, Heart, Brandy, Pink, Musiq Soulchild, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Jordin Sparks, Celine Dion, Rob Thomas, Katharine McPhee, Jeff Bridges, Randy Jackson, Patti Austin, Kid Cudi, Usher, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Isaac Slade (aka The Fray), Snoop Dogg, Nicole Richie, Trey Songz, Ethan Bortnick, Taryll Jackson, Taj Jackson, TJ Jackson, Vince Vaughn, Drake, Freda Payne, Faith Evans, Robin Thicke, Rashida Jones, Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Enrique Iglesias, Zac Brown, Lil Wayne, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Sean Garrett, Harry Connick Jr., Al Jardine, Bone Thugs and Harmony (Bizzy Bones) and AR Rahmen.
The session, which was scheduled around Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, began around 3 p.m. and lasted well into the night.
“Twenty five years ago, the entertainment industry showed the power of community to help our fellow man when we recorded ‘We Are the World’ to bring relief to those suffering from famine in Ethiopia,” said Jones in a statement. “And while the need to assistant Africa continues, today the country of Haiti is suffering immeasurably from the destruction due to the recent earthquake and is in immediate need of relief that will last long after the television cameras have left. As artists, we have joined together on this 25th anniversary and in the spirit of ‘We Are the World’ to help meet that need.”
The world premiere of “We Are The World – 25 For Haiti” will air during NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Feb. 12. The video for the song is being directed by Paul Haggis.
