U.S.A. For Africa

USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) was a charity supergroup assembled in 1985 in the United States, bringing together dozens of the era's biggest recording artists for a single cause: raising funds and awareness to combat famine in Africa. The project was conceived in the wake of Band Aid's «Do They Know It's Christmas?» and led to the recording of «We Are the World», written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, arranged by Michael Omartian and produced by Quincy Jones.

The recording session brought together an extraordinary roster of soloists including Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper, among many others, all performing without compensation. «We Are the World» became a global phenomenon, selling more than 20 million copies and standing as one of the best-selling physical singles of all time, while its accompanying music video and making-of documentary captured a rare moment of unified star power directed at a humanitarian cause.

Beyond the song, USA for Africa organized the 1986 «Hands Across America» event and, through its foundation, has directed the proceeds toward poverty relief efforts in Africa and the United States, with total contributions reported to exceed $100 million over four decades, making it one of the most impactful charity music initiatives in history.