Singers Raise Money For Relief Fund By Joining In Ensemble Efforts

Jet, Oct 8, 2001

Since the Sept. 11th attack, several singers have joined forces to record songs, featuring all-star lineups, to benefit the victims of the horrific crashes.

Superstar performer Michael Jackson who teamed up with Lionel Richie to assemble some of music's biggest names in 1985 for the song We Are The World, a song which raised $65 million for the hungry in Africa, is hoping to work his magic once more with the song What More Can I Give?, which he wrote, produced and financed. The song will feature stars like Destiny's Child, Mya, Justin Timberlake of N'Sync, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

"I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims," said Jackson, who's hoping to at least raise $50 million with this project. "There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people."

Another ensemble of performers joined forces to re-record Marvin Gaye's song What's Going On. The remake features Gaye's daughter, Nona Gaye, P. Diddy, Destiny's Child, Nelly, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Eve, Bono, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, to name a few. Acclaimed producer-songwriter-rapper Jermaine "JD" Dupri produced the record's "main mix."

The song, which calls for compassion, healing and love, was chosen in order to raise awareness and funds to fight against the scourge of AIDS in Africa.

But the ensemble, calling themselves Artists Against AIDS Worldwide, realized the recording's powerful healing message extended beyond the scope of the project's original aim, and decided to donate 50 percent of its proceeds to the United Way's September 11th Fund and 50 percent to the AIDS relief effort which includes the Global AIDS Alliance, among others.

One song being used to raise funds doesn't feature an all-star lineup, but the artist performing the tune delivers like an army of powerhouse vocalists.

Award-winning singer Whitney Houston recorded an unforgettable version of The Star-Spangled Banner for her Super Bowl XXV performance on Jan. 27, 1991. The song ended up becoming a unifying song for Americans during the Gulf War.

Because of the song's incredible impact, Arista Records is re-releasing Houston's soaring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner with proceeds from the sale of the commercial single CD benefiting the New York Firefighters Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police.

"I think that it's something that helps pull us together and brings us together as a nation," Arista President Antonio "L.A." Reid said. "It was one way for us at Arista to say, `Hey, we're here to help.'"