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Home , Ken Kragen, Quincy Jones

WorldMags.net REWINDING THE CHARTS

Springsteen (left) and Dylan at the “” recording session on Jan. 28, 1985 in Hollywood.

On Dec. 20, 1984, placed a call to nonprof t Columbia, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in just its fourth week, ‘We Are The consultant/music manager Ken Kragen in hopes of staging a the chart’s fastest-f ying No. 1 in nine years. It also concert to raise funds to f ght hunger in Africa — specif cally ruled the R&B/hip-hop, adult contemporary and dance charts. World’ Hit , where famine killed nearly 1 million in 198 3 and As impressive as the song’s chart performances were, it also 198 4. Kragen, who managed and helped raise more than $75 million to f ght famine. Nearly I Big In 1985 at the time, thought a supergroup charity single would make three decades later, the USA for Africa foundation continues more of an impact. He initially planned to recruit a dozen to raise funds and awareness for multiple African causes. artists for the song, but industry response was so enthusiastic The week that “World” took over the Hot 100, Billboard (perhaps inspired by the success of 1984’s “Do They Know noted the song was touching not only consumers, but Capitol It’s Christmas?,” a similar charity single from British and Irish Hill , as the RIAA had mailed 12-inch copies of the single to stars) that 50 artists ended up in the group, dubbed USA for each member of Congress on March 29 . “Three working days Africa — including and . Richie later,” Billboard reported, “the [RIAA] had received 51 letters and wrote the song, producer Quincy Jones and personal notes of congratulations and appreciation from assembled the artists at Hollywood’s A&M Studios in early the nation’s legislators, including a number of Senate and 1985, and “We Are the World” was born. House leaders.” One congressman “even enclosed a personal On April 13, 1985, the superstar-spangled single, released on check to help in the all-star ef ort.” —Gary Trust

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