Just as George Clooney used the Golden Globes as recruiting grounds for his Haiti telethon, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones did the same with Grammys for their “We Are the World” remake.
The veterans of the original 1985 charity single spent the festivities stocking up on music stars to perform on the new rendition, to be recorded Monday in Los Angeles.
Bono and Lady Gaga are among the latest on board for the Haiti-helping tune, joining the likes of Usher, Jason Mraz, Akon, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton. There could be as many as 100 singers on the new rendition. “It’s like the biggest honor in life to get a call from our father in music, Quincy Jones,” RedOne, who will help produce, told E! News backstage.
Tonight’s Grammys also featured a special Mary J. Blige-Andrea Bocelli duet of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The song will be available for download on iTunes with proceeds going to earthquake relief.
Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are planning a massive 25th anniversary re-recording of “We Are the World.”
The timing couldn’t be better, sadly enough.
The duo is summoning lots and lots of talent from Grammy weekend to stay an extra night — Monday Feb. 1 — and come to the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. There, they will celebrate a quarter century since Ken Kragen, Richie and Michael Jackson organized the original “We Are the World” with Jones.
This time the artists invited include Usher, Natalie Cole, and John Legend. But you can bet that more names will be added shortly and that all the Grammy nominees and participants will be asked to come as well. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the event, which will then be turned into a video and single just like it was in 1985. Don’t be surprised if Wyclef Jean joins in, along with Sting, Fergie, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and other distinctive voices.
Originally, this anniversary celebration was to be held on Jan. 28. But when the Haiti earthquake happened, sources say, the whole deal changed. Now proceeds will go to Haiti relief. In 1985, “We Are the World,” which begat Live Aid, raised money for Africa relief.
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