Lionel Richie

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He grew up on the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, where his family had a multi-generational connection. His grandmother was a classical pianist, and his uncle, a big-band jazz musician, gave him his first saxophone. Initially considering a career as a priest, his path turned to music.

The Commodores

In 1968, while a student at the Tuskegee Institute, Richie became the singer and saxophonist for the Commodores. The group signed with Motown Records and started as a support act for The Jackson 5. The Commodores became a popular soul group with a funky, danceable sound on tracks like "Machine Gun" and "Brick House". Over time, Richie wrote and sang more romantic ballads, including "Easy," "Three Times a Lady," and "Still." His songwriting for the group, particularly the ballads, attracted a wider audience and led to number one hits.

Solo Career

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Richie began writing and producing for other artists, including the hit "Lady" for Kenny Rogers. In 1981, he recorded the duet "Endless Love" with Diana Ross, which became a major international hit. Following this success, Richie launched his solo career in 1982 with a self-titled album. The album featured the number-one hit "Truly," which won him his first Grammy Award. His second album, "Can't Slow Down" (1983), sold over 20 million copies worldwide and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. This album included the major hits "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello." In 1985, he co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which raised millions for famine relief in Africa and won a Grammy for Song of the Year. His 1986 album, "Dancing on the Ceiling," featured the hit single "Say You, Say Me," which won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Later Career

After a decade-long break from recording, Richie released "Louder than Words" in 1996. He continued to release albums in the following years with moderate success. In 2012, he released "Tuskegee," an album of his greatest hits reimagined as country duets, which became a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Since 2018, Richie has been a judge on the singing competition show "American Idol." He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His accolades include four Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.