Michael Jackson hurricane relief song in the works

Jan 10, 2006, 9:56 GMT

Manama, Bahrain- U.S. pop star Michael Jackson is putting the finishing touches on a song to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Keisha Cole, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, Babyface and R Kelly are among the singers lending their voices to the song, which will be released by the Bahraini label 2 Seas Records.

More than 10 other artists are involved, with most recording their parts in Los Angeles. Jackson recorded his in London.

2 Seas Records belongs to Jackson's close friend Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the governor of the southern governorate and the son of Bahrain's king.

Jackson wrote the song himself in response to Hurricane Katrina that hit several states along the U.S. Gulf Coast last August, causing widespread death and devastation.

'This project is in response to the widespread devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina,' Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as telling Bahrain's English daily Gulf Daily News.

'It is my hope that the proceeds from this recording will make a tremendous difference to all individuals affected by this tragedy in the U.S.'

No release date has been announced, but the newspaper said the song was due out 'very soon'.

News reports Sunday revealed that Jackson was in talks with a local company over a string of possible entertainment projects in the Gulf, including theme parks and musical academies.

AAJ Holdings officials said they were in talks with Jackson to discuss ways of working together, with the possibility of the pop star providing the company and its subsidiaries with consultancy advice to help bolster the area's music and entertainment sector.

The 47-year-old star has been living in Bahrain since late June, after he was cleared of 13 sex abuse charges on June 13 by a California court.

Jackson, who arrived with his two sons, is seldom seen in public but was spotted before Christmas in a movie theatre watching 'King Kong'.

He went to see the movie twice, sources said. Once with Sheikh Abdullah and a few days later with his two sons and two Western families.

Days earlier Jackson reportedly spent around 7,963 dollars on gifts at the local Toys R Us store.

Jackson has been trying to get his musical career back on track after he was financially drained by the 14-week long trial in Santa Maria, California, where he faced charges that could have sent him to prison for more than two decades.

Recently, Jackson's veterinarian who took care of the pop star's exotic animals at his Neverland ranch, filed a lawsuit claiming Jackson owes him 91,602 dollars in unpaid bills.

A 10-million-dollar lawsuit filed by Jackson two years ago against U.S. businessman Henry Vaccaro over ownership of Jackson family memorabilia was dismissed by a judge late last week.