Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Dylan Finds His Voice
Coverage from Well Rounded, Esquire, and others
Articles
5
Latest Article
03/14
Active Days
1725
Executive Summary
Bob Dylan's nerves during the 1985 We Are The World session became a lesson in guidance and trust
- Bob Dylan joined the We Are The World recording on January 28-29, 1985 at A&M Studios in Los Angeles
- The session brought together more than 40 major artists to raise money for famine relief in Africa
- Dylan struggled to project his voice and appeared tense while recording his solo
- Quincy Jones cleared the room and reduced distractions to help Dylan focus
- Stevie Wonder sat at the piano and mimicked Dylan's style to show him how to sing the part
- After the coaching, Dylan relaxed and completed his solo in his own voice
- The recording became a landmark charity single and a key behind the scenes music story
Quick Facts
- What: Recording of the charity single We Are the World
- Where: A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California
- Why: To raise money for famine relief in Africa
- Who: Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie
- When: January 28 to 29, 1985
Coverage Timeline: 1725 Days
Featured Article
A blog post recounts a classroom memory and a documentary about the We Are the World recording, emphasizing Dylan's nervous solo and Stevie Wonder's guidance.
Additional Articles
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On January 28–29, 1985, Bob Dylan joined dozens of leading musicians at A&M Studios in Los Angeles to record We Are the World.
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Bao Nguyen's Netflix documentary The Greatest Night In Pop examines the 1985 We Are The World recording and its star lineup.
Bob Dylan is featured in a Netflix documentary about the We Are the World recording session, according to Star Tribune.
January 28, 1985, Bob Dylan participated in the We Are the World recording session at Shrine Auditorium and A&M Studios in Los Angeles, alongside more than 40 stars.