U.S.A. for Africa: The Supergroup of 80s Charity Rock

U.S.A. for Africa was a one-off American charity supergroup assembled in 1985 to raise funds for famine relief in Africa. The collective, featuring dozens of the era's biggest pop, rock, and R&B stars, created one of the most iconic charity singles in music history.

Early career

U.S.A. for Africa was not a traditional artist with a career arc but a project conceived by activist Harry Belafonte and organized by fundraiser Ken Kragen. The idea was to unite the American music industry under the banner "United Support of Artists for Africa." The project rapidly gained momentum in late 1984, with recording scheduled for January 1985.

Breakthrough

The group's instant and only breakthrough was the 1985 single "We Are the World." Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, the song was recorded in a single marathon session after the American Music Awards. Released in March 1985 on Columbia Records, it became a global phenomenon, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and selling over 20 million copies worldwide.

Key tracks

We Are the World — The sole single from the project, it became the fastest-selling American pop single in history at the time and won three Grammy Awards in 1986.

We Are the World (Video) — The accompanying music video, showing the historic recording session, was crucial for MTV exposure and further driving sales and awareness for the cause.

Later impact and album

The corresponding album, "We Are the World," featured the single alongside donated tracks from various participating artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Huey Lewis and The News. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified quadruple platinum. All proceeds, estimated at over $60 million, were distributed via the charitable organization USA for Africa to support humanitarian efforts.

The project's success inspired similar charity singles globally, most notably the UK's Band Aid. The collective's legacy is defined by this singular, monumental event in pop culture and philanthropy, rather than a sustained musical output. A 2010 remake, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti," was recorded to aid earthquake relief.

Artists with a similar spirit of anthemic, collaborative pop-rock include Band Aid which was the UK's direct response with its own all-star charity single. The grand pop production style echoes Michael Jackson who co-wrote the song and was a central vocal presence. For the spirit of 80s superstar collaboration, hear The Highwaymen a country supergroup featuring Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. The anthemic songwriting approach is also found in Journey known for their powerful, sing-along choruses and broad appeal.

The historic track "We Are the World" remains a staple on classic hits and 80s pop radio stations. It receives heavy rotation during themed retrospectives and charity events on online radio streams dedicated to retro music.

You can hear the iconic music of U.S.A. for Africa on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover this landmark moment in charity rock through the various classic pop and historical music radio stations available on onairium.com.