The Story Behind Quincy Jones’ Involvement with “We Are the World”

Quincy Jones is among the most celebrated producers the music industry has ever seen. His influence ranged far and wide with him making records for crooners, pop icons, and soul stars. He worked with all of those groups–and more–on one fateful night in 1985. Jones had the nearly insurmountable task of corralling a room full of mega stars. Luckily he had a good cause to push him in this goal. Read more about Jones’ involvement with the famed charity single, “We Are the World,” below.

[RELATED: The Story Behind How Quincy Jones Nearly Cut “Billie Jean” From Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’]

The Story Behind Quincy Jones’ Involvement with “We Are the World”

There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

Directing even one A-list musician can sometimes prove a difficult task–let alone 40 plus. Jones recruited the likes of Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, and many more stars for the session. He had one simple request for them all: leave their egos at home.

“After the American Music Awards, we all change out of our clothes, ’cause we don’t want to make a hunger record in tuxedos,” Jones reportedly ordered.

Jones set the tone for the record with that simple, yet consequential request. What could’ve been a jarring bit of proof that these celebrities were out of touch, turning into a touching emblem of unity.

We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need

“If cornered, any one of them would take your skin off layer by layer,” Jones once wrote of the “We Are the World” session. The amount of exceptionally famous people in that room would’ve made lesser producers shy away. Nevertheless, Jones found it inspiring.

“I have never before or since experienced the joy I felt that night working with this rich, complex human tapestry of love, talent, and grace,” he continued.

Revisit this track, below.

[RELATED: Elton John, Lionel Richie Among Stars Paying Tribute to Late Music Icon Quincy Jones]

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me

(Photo by Ron Wolfson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)