Lot 314
  • 314

"We are the World" — U.S.A. for Africa

Estimate
10,000 - 20,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Autographed Soloist Sheet Music with Grammy Nomination Certificate, 1985 
  • paper, ink
Four pages of sheet music. Mounted to black cloth and framed in a lucite shadowbox, (overall 17 1/4 x 41 3/4 x 2 in. 438 x 1,060 x 51mm). Previously folded, edges lifting from cloth where previously mounted, printed sheet music sunned, approximately 20 signatures in black marker still very strong. Not examined out of frame. [Accompanied by] framed Grammy Nomination certificate presented to Tom Trbovich, glass cracked on upper left corner. 

Provenance

Tom Trbovich (Video Director for "We Are the World — the Video Event")

Condition

Four pages of sheet music. Mounted to black cloth and framed in a lucite shadowbox, (overall 17 1/4 x 41 3/4 x 2 in. 438 x 1,060 x 51mm). Previously folded, edges lifting from cloth where previously mounted, printed sheet music sunned, approximately 20 signatures in black marker still very strong. Not examined out of frame. [Accompanied by] framed Grammy Nomination certificate presented to Tom Trbovich, glass cracked on upper left corner.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Catalogue Note

"We are the world, We are the children ..." a soloist lead sheet used at the recording session, signed by many of the performersInspired by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” Harry Belafonte decided to form his own musical super-group to help raise money to fight famine in Africa. The resulting effort, "We are the World," would go on to become become one of the fastest- and best-selling singles of the modern pop era, and a great fundraising success for U.S.A. for Africa. 

In a behind-the-scenes video documenting the rehearsal process, a number of performers commented on the autograph frenzy that broke out midway through recording: "Mass hysteria broke out because everybody wanted everybody else's autograph" — "Everyone wanted a memento that we could all keep ourselves, and we had the sheet music and had all the other artist's sign it."  

The present soloist leadsheet has been signed by at least 21 of the 45 performers, including: Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, Daryl Hall, James Ingram, Michael Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, and Tina Turner.