This Day in Music
On this day in music, January 28, 1985, music’s biggest stars (collectively dubbed “USA for Africa”) assembled at Los Angeles’ A&M Recording Studios to record “We Are the World.” Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, the Grammy-winning charitable single was inspired by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (released a month earlier to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia). More than three-dozen artists took part in the epic recording session, including 21 soloists. Among them were Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul Simon. Bob Geldof, who organized “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” joined the chorus, alongside The Pointer Sisters, Bette Midler, and Harry Belafonte, among many others, while Quincey Jones served as conductor. Between record and merch sales, as well as private donations, “We Are the World” raised more than $50 million for the humanitarian fund.
In 1995, TLC scored their first No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Creep.” The slow jam was an anthem for lovers on the down-low everywhere.
In 1978, Van Halen released their first single, a high-energy rendition of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” While rumored to be disliked by The Kinks themselves, the cover was a huge hit, thanks to frontman David Lee Roth’s over-the-top delivery.
In 1978, one of music’s most celebrated albums, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, went to No.1 in the UK. The album featured several hit singles, including “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” and “You Make Loving Fun.”
BORN ON JANUARY 28
1927: Ronnie Scott
1941: King Tubby
1945: Robert Wyatt (Soft Machine)
1968: Sarah MacLachlan
1968: DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill)
1977: Joey Fatone (*NSYNC)
1980: Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys)
1985: J Cole
