USA for Africa Trivia

1. One of the writers of the song "We Are the World" was part of a singing group with his brothers. His 1982 album was one of the highest selling albums of all time. Who is this singer?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was one of the co-authors of the song "We Are the World." He had success as a solo artist and with his brothers in the group the Jackson 5. At the time of his death in 2009, he gave to over 40 charities.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Kenny Rogers

Rogers won the favorite country male artist in 1985. He beat Hank Williams Jr. and Ricky Skaggs. Kenny Rogers performed a solo version of this song at a 1986 concert.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Bob Geldof

The British super group recorded a song for an anti-poverty effort in Ethiopia called "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats was the only person to be a part of both USA for Africa and Band Aid.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Daryl Hall

John Oates was not asked to record a solo for the song. Daryl Hall was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2005.

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: USA for Africa

The group name "USA for Africa" actually stood for United Support of Artist for Africa.

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: 12th Annual American Music Awards

All of these happened on 28 January but different years. After the Award ceremony, the artists gathered to record the video and recorded until the early morning of the next day. The group was determined to record the song! The Superbowl was in 1985. The Thornbirds won in 1984. "The Wiz" was in 1979.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick

Gladys Knight and Elton John also sang on "That's What Friends Are For." This song became a number one single and raised money for AIDS research.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Michael Jackson

While the other artists were at the American Music Awards, Michael recorded a guide vocal track the night of the recording session. Stevie Wonder also sings this line later in the song.

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: seven

Pop superstar Michael Jackson was a co-writer of the song, and sang one of the rotating lead vocals. Michael was joined by his four brothers, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon, with whom he performed with as the "Jackson 5", Michael's youngest brother, Randy and his sister, LaToya. All but Michael participated as contributing vocalist.

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson

Lionel and Michael wrote this 1985 award winning song which won Grammys including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The record sold 800,000 copies in the first weekend! Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen and Bob Dylan were soloists.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Harry Belafonte

Dubbed the "King of Calypso," Harry Belafonte's signature song was "The Banana Boat Song." During his career Belafonte was also active in political, humanitarian and civil rights activism.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Willie Nelson

The Bible clearly states that Jesus, when tempted to turn stones to bread, refused. This can be found in the book of Matthew. Waylon Jennings alledgedly left the studio due to a lyric dispute.

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Tina Turner

Tina's solo came on the eight line of the song when she sang, "We're all a part of God's great big family." Tina also sang line ten of the song in a duet with Billy Joel, proclaiming, "You know love is all we need." Tina's solo followed solo's by Lionel Ritchie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, and James Ingram, and duets by Lionel Ritchie and Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon and Kenny Rogers.

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Lionel Richie

Lionel started out this masterpiece, which is why most people remember the first line of the song as well.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" was originally recorded for Motown Records by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross in 1981. This song was covered by Kenny Rogers, Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper was asked to remove her jewelry during the recording because it jingled when she stepped up to the microphone. She graciously complied.

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Check your ego at the door

The instrumental tracks were recorded ahead of time and sent out to the interested musicians. With each tape, he sent a letter that stated they should "check their ego at the door". When the artist arrived in the studio, there was a piece of tape on the floor for each person to stand on, arranged around six microphones in a semi-circle. The session did not go without incident. In one incident reported on a "VH-1 Pop-Up Video", Waylon Jennings left the recording session due to a dispute over the lyrics. The dispute started when Stevie Wonder announced that he would like to substitute a line in Swahili. After a few rehearsals, a full-fledged creative conflict broke out after Bob Geldof pointed out that Ethiopians did not speak Swahili. Michael Jackson then proposed to keep his original line "Sha-lin, Sha-lingay", but after a few rehearsals, it too ran into opposition because it doesn't have a meaning. Eventually, Al Jarreau cried, "we can make a meaning" and came up with "One world, our word", which was changed one last time to, "One world, our children".

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen released "Born in the USA" in 1984. The song was mistakenly believed to be patriotic and was briefly used by Ronald Reagan in the 1984 Presidential Campaign.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Lionel Richie

The song "We Are The World" was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Richie hosted the American Music Awards in 1985, which took place just hours before the recording session.

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: 21

Twenty-one soloists consisted of the following artists (in singing order): Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jurreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Tina Turner

Tina Turner toured with Lionel Richie in 1984 as his opening act. In 1985, she won the favorite solo female R&B/soul artist at the American Music Awards.

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Columbia Records

Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution cost to the effort. "We Are The World" hit the stores on Tuesday, March 7, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend.

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce's performance was so moving to see! He gave 200% to this song and it shows in the video and in the record! Bruce was born on September 23, 1949. is also one of my favorite performers. His hits include: "Dancing in the Dark" (1984,) for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male, which is one of many Grammy awards he has won. "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) was a amulti-winner for Bruce. He won an Academy Award for as well as a Grammy for Song of the Year, Rock Song of the Year, Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. This was in the move "Philadelphia" (1993). In 2001, he also earned an Emmy Award as well. Bruce devotes a great deal of his time to worthy causes and "We are the World" is just one of them.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Waylon Jennings

"The Dukes of Hazzard" was an American television comedy that aired from 1979-1985. The premise of the show was the adventures of the Duke family from Hazzard County, Georgia. Waylon Jennings lent his voice to be the show's narrator/balladeer.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Huey Lewis

Huey Lewis and the News also had a song appear on the "We Are The World" LP. The song was "Trouble In Paradise."

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte originally wanted to put together a benefit concert featuring black musicians to raise money for Africa. Ken Kragen thought an American version of "Band Aid" would be a better idea. He then contacted one of his clients, Lionel Ritchie, with the idea. Lionel's wife talked to Stevie Wonder's wife and arranged to line him up for the song. Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote the song.

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Paul Simon

Paul Simon was a musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on September 29, 2001. This was the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" to air after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Paul Simon opened the show by singing "The Boxer" on stage with New York City policemen and firefighters standing by his side.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Paul Simon

Twice Simon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: once for his involvement in Simon & Garfunkel and again for his solo efforts.

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