Song

By: Michael Jackson; Lionel Richie

Date: 1985

Source: Jackson, Michael, and Lionel Richie. "We Are the World." Secaucus, N.J.: Mijac Music & Brockman Music, 1985.

About the Artists: Michael Jackson (1958–) and Lionel Richie (1949–) are both singers and songwriters. Jackson began his career singing with his brothers in the Jackson Five during the 1960s. In 1976 the group split and Jackson began pursuing a solo career. Richie sang with the group the Commodores from the 1960s until 1981, when he began a solo career.

Introduction

Recording stars raising funds for needy causes became a larger enterprise in the 1980s compared to previous decades. In 1984, a group of artists in the United Kingdom known as BandAid recorded "Do They Know It's Christmas?" USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) recorded "We Are the World" in January 1985. Other "aid"...