USA for Africa
USA for Africa in 1985 was a music project to raise money for the victims of the famine in Ethiopia from 1984 to 1985. USA in the name of the band means " United Support of Artists". That persists to this day: From the Music project, a private aid organization ( USAFA abbreviation ) developed.
History
From the idea of Harry Belafonte, to raise money for Africa through a band - project black musicians, developed under the guidance of producer Ken collar modeled by Band Aid, a musical project, under which Quincy Jones the written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie song We Are the World produced. The recording took place on 28 January 1985. The song was released as a single that made it to the U.S. and the UK at number one on the Billboard charts. In addition, in April 1985 released their album We Are the World, which reached as the song number one. On this was heard among other Prince, who was not involved in the song project.
On May 25, 1986, a further action of the project took place, Hands Across America, during which seven million people in the United States formed a human chain. There was also another purpose, the same song.
Success / results
The first 800,000 singles came on 7 March 1985 on the market and were sold within a week. In three weeks the song was at number one on the charts. 1985 won the song We Are the World Grammy for "Song of the Year" and " Record of the Year ".
Many million singles were sold (in total about 20 million by 2009 ) and more than three million albums. The royalties were gains from the sale of T -shirts, videos, posters, and sweatshirts. Total came together at the $ 100 million for USA for Africa with Hands Across America.
Organization
Furthermore, it was USA for Africa established as an organization and continues to exist until today. As early as the mid-1980s two agencies were established, one in Los Angeles and one in New York City, since many of the partner organizations such as CARE International, the United Nations Development Programme UNICEF or were located on the east coast of the USA. However, it was closed in 1987. At this time there was an organizational change in the program, which went from being a short-term aid project of pop and rock musicians for an organization that worked with African NGOs. It was invested tends to smaller amounts and in longer-term projects. They were concerned with reconstruction and development, education, women's and youth development.
In the 1990s, the totals were slightly smaller than waned attention for the project. In 2005, the 20 - year anniversary was celebrated. To this end, there was an anniversary DVD. Followed in 2009, then, for the 25th anniversary on 28 January 2010, the project We Are the World 25
Contributors
The most important musicians involved in the project music ( choral and solo singer), listed alphabetically:
- Dan Aykroyd
- Harry Belafonte
- Lindsey Buckingham
- Kim Carnes
- Ray Charles
- Bob Dylan
- Sheila E.
- Bob Geldof
- Daryl Hall
- James Ingram
- Jackie Jackson
- La Toya Jackson
- Marlon Jackson
- Michael Jackson
- Randy Jackson
- Tito Jackson
- Al Jarreau
- Waylon Jennings
- Billy Joel
- Cyndi Lauper
- Huey Lewis
- Kenny Loggins
- Bette Midler
- Willie Nelson
- John Oates
- Jeffrey Osborne
- Steve Perry
- Prince (on the album, not the song involved)
- Pointer Sisters
- Kenny Rogers
- Diana Ross
- Lionel Richie
- Smokey Robinson
- Paul Simon
- Bruce Springsteen
- Tina Turner
- Dionne Warwick
- Stevie Wonder
Related projects
- Band Aid (1984 )
- Band for Africa ( 1985)
- Hear 'n Aid, a heavy metal project (1986 )
- Artists for Haiti ( 2010)