Flashback Fridays: 'We Are the World'

When Quincy Jones calls, the music industry answers. Twenty-five years after Jones orchestrated the first recording of “We are the World” to benefit USA for Africa, he’s calling upon his friends to help earthquake victims in Haiti. The new version of the song is scheduled to be recorded at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on February 1, the day after the Grammy Awards. Although the official line-up is yet to be confirmed, Billboard reports that list of invited artists range from Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and Natalie Cole to John Legend, Fergie and Wyclef Jean. More artists are expected to join the effort. Originally recording in 1985, “We are the World”–penned by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and co-produced by Jones–featured chart-topping artists of the day including Sheila E., Hall & Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau and the late Ray Charles. The Grammy-winning single was credited as the fastest-selling single in pop history.