NationMaster - Encyclopedia: USA for Africa

USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa), was the name under which forty-five U.S. artists, led by Harry Belafonte, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a US and UK Number One for the collective in April of that year. Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government â€¢ President â€¢ Vice President Federal Republic George... Belafonte (center) on the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C with Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston Harold George Belafonte, Jr. ... Kenny Rogers For the baseball player, see Kenny Rogers (baseball player). ... For other people with the same name, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation) Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American musician and entertainer whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for the last quarter-century. ... Lionel Sandrasinghi Richie, Jr. ... We Are the World is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. ...

The considerable profits from the enterprise went to the USA for Africa Foundation, which used them for the relief of famine and disease in Africa; critics, however, claim that this money went directly to the (often military) governments of the affected countries rather than the people. Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ...

A recording of the live performance was released with the Live Aid DVD set released on November 8 2004. Live Aid at Wembley Stadium Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on July 13, 1985. ...

Performers

Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd (left) with John Belushi in The Blues Brothers Daniel Edward Aykroyd (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter and musician. ...

Harry Belafonte Belafonte (center) on the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C with Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston Harold George Belafonte, Jr. ...

Lindsey Buckingham Law and Order (1981) was Lindsey Buckinghams first solo album Lindsey Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American guitarist and singer for the musical group Fleetwood Mac. ...

Kim Carnes Kim Carnes Kim Carnes (born July 20, 1945 in Los Angeles, California) is an American singer and songwriter. ...

Ray Charles Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 â€“ June 10, 2004). ...

Mario Cipollina (Huey Lewis & The News) Huey Lewis & the News, formerly known as Huey Lewis & the American Express, are a popular U.S. rock band based in San Francisco, California whose greatest success was in the 1980s, when they were one of the most popular music acts of the decade. ...

Johnny Colla (Huey Lewis & The News) Huey Lewis & the News, formerly known as Huey Lewis & the American Express, are a popular U.S. rock band based in San Francisco, California whose greatest success was in the 1980s, when they were one of the most popular music acts of the decade. ...

Bob Dylan (lead singer, among others) Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and poet whose enduring contributions to American song are often compared, in fame and influence, to those of Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams. ...

Sheila E. Sheila Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), better known as Sheila E., is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. ...

Bob Geldof Bob Geldof Robert Frederick Xenon Bob Geldof, KBE (born October 5, 1951) is an Irish singer, songwriter, actor and political activist. ...

Bill Gibson (Huey Lewis & The News) Huey Lewis & the News, formerly known as Huey Lewis & the American Express, are a popular U.S. rock band based in San Francisco, California whose greatest success was in the 1980s, when they were one of the most popular music acts of the decade. ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates (Hall & Oates) It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Hall & Oates. ... -1... Hall & Oates is the popular music duo made up of Daryl Hall and John Oates. ...

Sean Hopper (Huey Lewis & The News) Huey Lewis & the News, formerly known as Huey Lewis & the American Express, are a popular U.S. rock band based in San Francisco, California whose greatest success was in the 1980s, when they were one of the most popular music acts of the decade. ...

James Ingram James Ingram (*February 16, 1956, Akron, Ohio, USA) is an American soul musician, famous for his vocal performance. ...

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine Jackson Jermaine Lajuane Jackson, now known as Muhammad Abdul Aziz (born December 11, 1954 in Gary, Indiana) is an African American singer, bass guitarist, former member of The Jackson 5 and brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. ...

Jackie Jackson Be The One cover Jackie Jackson (born Sigmund Esco Jackson on May 4, 1951 in Gary, Indiana) is an African-American singer and musician, formerly member of The Jackson 5, and is the oldest son in the Jackson family that includes American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. ...

LaToya Jackson La Toya Jackson La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956 in Gary, Indiana) is an American singer and the middle child of the Jackson family. ...

Michael Jackson For other people with the same name, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation) Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American musician and entertainer whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for the last quarter-century. ...

Randy Jackson Randall Matthew Jackson (born June 23, 1956) is an American musician and record producer, now best known to the general public for being a judge on the television show American Idol. ...

Al Jarreau Alwyn Lopez Jarreau (born March 12, 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin), known popularly as Al Jarreau, is an American, Grammy Awardâ€“winning jazz singer. ...

Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 â€“ February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ...

Billy Joel Billy Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. ...

Cyndi Lauper Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953), better known as Cyndi Lauper, is an American pop singer and actress whose melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the 1980s, the decade in which she first came to fame. ...

Huey Lewis Huey Lewis, sporting a Tape a record, go to prison sleeveless T-shirt. ...

Kenny Loggins Kenny Loggins on the cover of his collection Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: The Greatest Hits of Kenny Loggins Kenny Loggins (born Kenneth Clark Loggins on January 7, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. ...

Bette Midler Bette Midler, on the cover of her 1973 album of the same name This is about the performer also called The Divine Miss M; for her eponymous albums, see her list of albums. ...

Willie Nelson Willie Nelson William Hugh Willie Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, and originally from Abbott, Texas. ...

Jeffrey Osborne Jeffrey Osborne is a funk musician from the band LTD. He started his career in 1969. ...

Steve Perry The name Steve Perry might refer to any of the following: Steve Perry (musician), the former lead singer of the band Journey. ...

Pointer Sisters The Pointer Sisters were an American vocal group and recording act from Oakland, California that achieved great success during the 1970s and 1980s. ...

Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers For the baseball player, see Kenny Rogers (baseball player). ...

Paul Simon Publicity still for Youre the One, released in 2000 Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter of Hungarian descent who received Kennedy Center Honors in 2002. ...

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American rock and folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ...

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939) is a Grammy Award-winning American pop/rock singer, Buddhist and occasional actress. ...

Dionne Warwick Dionne Warwick on the cover of her Christmas album My Favorite Time of the Year Dionne Warwick (born December 12, 1940 in East Orange, New Jersey, as Marie Dionne Warrick) is an American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters. ...

Stevie Wonder (lead singer, among others) Stevie Wonder is the stage name of Steveland Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Steveland Judkins, later changed to Steveland Morris[1]) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, musician, humanitarian and social activist. ...

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See also

Performers