NEW YORK (AP) -
Carlos Santana, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and
Celine Dion are participating in an all-star, Spanish-language recording of Michael Jackson's "What More Can I Give," with proceeds to benefit the survivors and families of the victims of the
September 11 terrorist attacks.
"Todo Para Ti" ("What More Can I Give") will also include the talents of
Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Boyz II Men, Jon Secada,
Julio Iglesias,
Ruben Blades, Brian McKnight,
Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, Luis Miguel, Destiny's Child, Shakira, Luther Vandross,
Laura Pausini, Joy Enriquez, and Alejandro Sanz, as well as the song's writer, Michael Jackson. The recording is a "
We Are The World"-style collaboration helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer K.C. Porter, whose credits include Santana's 1999 Grammy-winning album Supernatural.
Porter tells how he got involved with the recording. "We actually started an organization called Oneness a while back that is promoting racial unity through music and the arts. The attorney that is representing our organization actually happened to be representing Michael's company on this project. And he knew that I was pretty much the guy who does so much of the Spanish versions out there: from Bon Jovi to Toni Braxton to Boyz II Men to you name it. We've, you know, we've done so much of that."
Porter says that more and more artists are being added to the recording, and that he would especially like to include one or two Middle Eastern artists as well. "I already knew some of the people from Middle East that could be part of this, and I just didn't know how strange it would be or not. I don't even know if Michael's, you know, what his feeling is on that. I didn't even mention it to Michael, but what I would like to do is to get somebody in the studio like Cheb Mami and have him just put a little, a little flair inside there that people kind of hear and go, 'Oh wow, that's you know...' that really makes people think. But it's not like a real in-your-face thing, but hopefully we might try to, or I might try sneak a little vibe in there."
The Spanish-language version of "What More Can I Give" should be available for release within the next couple of weeks.
