(9/26/01, 7 a.m. ET) -- More than 75 artists, actors, entertainers and athletes came together last weekend to participate in recording sessions for a remake of the Sister Sledge hit "We Are Family," to raise money for the American Red Cross (news - web sites), as well as various other educational and outreach organizations promoting tolerance. The sessions, which took place in both New York and Los Angeles, were produced by guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers, who wrote and produced the original version of the song in 1979. The new version of the inspirational anthem will be released next week, and will retail for $3.99.
Of the recording session, Rodgers said: "I'm completely humbled, overwhelmed and thankful for the selfless contribution of all the people who came out here in Los Angeles--from Red Cross volunteers and Mohammed Ali's daughter May May, to the artists, athletes, entertainers and everyone behind the scenes. We hope this new release of 'We Are Family' will help people feel better. And after they feel better, make them think better."
A music video of "We Are Family," directed by Spike Lee, will be released with the song, along with a documentary about the recording sessions produced by Globalvision's Danny Schechter.
Talk show host Montel Williams, who helped Rodgers coordinate the sessions said: "We need to give accolades to Nile Rodgers, who had a vision laid out for others to see. It was clear from being in L.A. that we're all family, and that the spirit goes from East to West."
Some of the those participating on the star-studded track include Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Phoebe Snow, Little Steven Van Zandt, Ashford & Simpson, Jackson Browne, Afrika Bambaataa, Mick Jones of Foreigner, Dionne Warwick, Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish, Fred Schneider of the B-52's, Stephen Bishop, Leif Garrett, Patti Smythe, Sophie B. Hawkins, Joan Osborne, the Pointer Sisters, Faith Evans, Taylor Dayne, Roberta Flack, Chante Moore, Stephanie Mills, Kenny Lattimore, Vitamin C, Nestor Torres, Amber, Angie Stone, David Hasselhoff, Carl Thomas, Denise Williams, John McEnroe, Gary Sheffield, Lisa Leslie, Milla Jovovich, Matthew Modine, Queen Latifah, Gina Gershon, Rosie Perez, Molly Shannon, Taye Diggs, Eartha Kitt, Deborah Gibson, Erika Slezak, Maury Povich, Carmen Electra, Aida Turturro, Ananda Lewis and Lisa Ling.
-- Sue Falco, New York
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