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Sheila E. Says ‘We Are the World’ Organizers Tried to Get Prince Through Her

Sheila E. said she expected to sing on “We Are the World,” but came to feel organizers were relying on her connection to Prince to get him to the studio.
Opened Runtime3 min Written byDocumentaryTube Team
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Sheila E. later said she felt the organizers of the 1985 “We Are the World” recording session were using her connection to Prince to persuade him to come. She had expected to sing a verse, she recalled, but as people repeatedly asked her to call Prince, she concluded that getting him to the studio—not giving her a vocal part—was the reason she had been invited. That is her account of the organizers’ motives, not proof of a secret plan shared by everyone involved.

Why Sheila E. felt used at the session

In Netflix Tudum’s account of the documentary, Sheila E. says she was looking forward to singing a verse as the late-night session continued. Instead, she recalls being asked, “Well, do you think you can get Prince here?” She came to believe that a verse was never intended for her, which she described as “a little bit heartbreaking.”

Us reports that Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones repeatedly urged her to call Prince. Sheila E. recalled, “Everyone took turns trying to get me to call him back and have him come down…. I just thought, ‘Wow, they were all my friends. That’s cold-blooded.’” The reported phrasing captures her recollection; it should not be treated as an independently verified transcript of every exchange.

Documentary director Bao Nguyen said Sheila E. had not spoken publicly about the experience before. He also said she continued to view participating in the session positively. Her criticism, as presented in the film, concerns what she believed the organizers wanted from her—not the charity project itself.

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What happened on the night of “We Are the World”

“We Are the World” was recorded in 1985 as a USA for Africa charity single to raise money for African famine relief. After the American Music Awards on January 28, artists gathered at A&M Studios in Los Angeles for an all-night recording session.

Prince had a solo place reserved opposite Michael Jackson, but he did not attend. Kenny Loggins suggested Huey Lewis for the line, and Lewis sang it on the recording.

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We are the World - The Story Behind the Song (20th Anniversary Special Edition)
  • A dream that became a song, an event, and a worldwide movement! See the making of a miracle as 45 of the biggest names in American popular music combine to record a song to help alleviate the suffering of starving millions in Africa and America.

Ken Kragen, an organizer, later recalled that the team expected Prince to come because Sheila E. was a friend of Richie’s. The Independent also reports Kragen’s account that Prince called during the session and asked whether he could record a guitar part; Quincy Jones said the basic tracks were already finished. That is Kragen’s retrospective account, not a statement from Prince.

What the accounts establish—and what they do not

The accounts support a clear distinction between the sequence of events and the private motives behind them:

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  • Sheila E.’s experience: She said she expected to sing and felt that repeated requests to reach Prince made her connection to him the point of her invitation.
  • The recording outcome: Prince did not attend, and Huey Lewis sang the solo line associated with Prince’s reserved spot.
  • The limits: Sheila E.’s account describes how she interpreted the requests. Kragen’s recollection supports that organizers expected Prince to come through her connection, but the available accounts do not prove that every organizer shared a concealed plan. They also do not establish Prince’s definitive reason for not attending.

The documentary’s account makes the tension legible: Sheila E. could value the charitable effort and still feel hurt by what she believed had happened to her at the session.

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Where to watch or hear the story

The original “We Are the World” recording and the documentary serve different purposes. The song is the released charity single; the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes account, including Sheila E.’s recollection of that night. Check current availability in your region before looking for the film or a particular edition of the recording.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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