Music stars to launch aid single

2005-01-02 22:04

London - British music stars are joining forces to release a charity single to raise millions for the victims of the Asian tsunamis, the broadcaster behind the song said.

Cliff Richard, Boy George and opera singer Russell Watson will all sing on the track, entitled "Grief Never Grows Old", according to broadcaster Mike Read, the man leading the project.

"I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster and in tears on seeing the orphaned children wandering aimlessly in search of their parents," Read said.

"Some of the newspaper photographs were just so harrowing," he added.

All funds raised by the single will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is an umbrella organisation for British charities.

The backing track has already been finished and Read said he hoped recording from the famous artists could be finished within a week to get the single on the shelves as soon as possible.

Read said he was not concerned whether the track tops the charts, only that it makes a lot of money.

"I'd only be pleased in terms of what it meant for sales if it got to number one," he added.

Ronan Keating, Jamie Cullum, Robin and Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees, Chris Rea and Olivia Newton John have also been asked to sing on the track.

- AFP