'We Are the World' redone to aid Haiti

2010-02-04 11:00 BJT

Special Report: Strong Quake Hits Haiti |

Twenty five years ago, the recording "We Are the World" became perhaps the most famous charity anthem. Now, 80 artists have picked up the torch and re-recorded the enduring hit in the same Hollywood studio.

Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Brian Wilson and many others stood shoulder to shoulder Monday night on risers at Henson Recording studios to aid quake ravaged Haiti.

Quincy Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery efforts in Haiti. The song, officially titled "We Are the World - 25 for Haiti," will premiere this month during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC.

The original "We Are the World" thundered up the charts when it was released in March 1985. An unprecedented number of top pop musicians had gathered in January of that year, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper. The record raised more than 30 million US dollars that year for USA for Africa, a nonprofit the singers founded to fund hunger relief in Africa.

Proceeds from the new version initially are to go to the newly formed charity, We Are the World Foundation LLC, and then distributed to Haiti.