Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson changed the world with the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” but Richie Wish Jackson changed his clothes.
“Michael is very close to his family, but once he appears alone and makes these monster albums, movies and videos, he is in charge of his own ship. His daily life is what you call weird and extremely messy,” Richie remembers in his new memoir realhe recalls stars like Tina Turner, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, produced by Quincy Jones.
Quincy used to tease [Jackson] Ritchie recalls, with the nickname “Smelly.” Michael would also laugh, realizing that he had forgotten the fact that he hadn't changed or washed clothes for days. Approximately that. We all have quirks. Michael doesn't have clothes like you or me. He can't just go to a department store or boutique in Beverly Hills. He is doing a tour for his well-crafted outfits made by his designers, or his pajamas and studio slippers, or he is wearing outfits. Or, he wears something loose and comfortable at home so he can practice dance moves. ”
American ensemble group.
Bateman/Getty
“Some of his throwing looks – talking about white socks and black loafers – turned into a global fashion statement. These little breads are great when walking on the moon or boarding points.”
Ritchie said he would ask “Billy Jean” “Idol,” “Where do you get those jeans, Michael?” ” Jackson would tell him that he would walk into any clothing store and everyone would just give him a pair.
“I suggest he go back and get a pair of people who are right,” Ritchie cracked.
On the way, if Michael delivers his clothes to the hotel cleaner, only half of the items will come back. Everything else remains on souvenirs. He was just used to wearing the same pants until they didn't know it, he explained, but clarified that he and Jones' Jackson had good ribs, but we weren't in love, but he wasn't in love.
register Weekly entertainmentFree daily newsletters for “Breaking TV News”, “Exclusive First Round Trip”, “Reviews”, comments, interviews with your favorite stars and more.
Richie initially thought of a charity single similar to Bob Geldof's 1984 “Do they know it's Christmas?” This was a united Bono, Sting, George Michael and more music stars based on Britain and Ireland, raising funds for the 1983-1985 Ethiopian famine. The following year, Ritchie felt forced to do something when the famine broke out, but thought “it’s important that black artists lead this in such a project.”
He initially tried to work with Stevie Wonder but couldn't get to him. So Jones worked with Jackson to produce a series of blockbuster albums that brought the two musicians and the American supergroup to Africa.
Lionel Richie in 2025.
Christopher Willard/Disney by Getty
“It's been more than a decade since Commodores last opened for the J-5,” Rich said, noting that his Motown group initially signed with the famous record label as a support law for Jackson family band The Jackson 5.
“As our lives and careers changed, Michael and I remained intimate. Sometimes I played his big brother, or we changed roles, and he became my wise consultant.”
“We Are the World” combines Jackson, Ritchie, Turner, Dylan, Nelson, Cindy Lauper, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, the Little Pointer Sisters, and many other musical artists. The single player ended up raising more than $80 million in funding, or over $225 million in inflation. The song has been repeated several times over the years for different charities and sang it at Jackson's funeral in 2009.