Lionel Richie

For his eponymous album, see Lionel Richie (album).

Lionel Richie
Richie in 2022
Born
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr.

(1949-06-20) June 20, 1949 (age 75)
Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • television personality
Years active1968–present
Spouses
Brenda Harvey
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1993)​
Diane Alexander
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 2004)​
Children3, including Nicole and Sofia
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • saxophone
Labels
Formerly ofCommodores
Websitelionelrichie.com

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady" and "Still" with the group before his departure. In 1980, he wrote and produced the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single "Lady" for Kenny Rogers.

In 1981, Richie wrote and produced the single "Endless Love", which he recorded as a duet with Diana Ross; it remains among the top 20 bestselling singles of all time, and the biggest career hit for both artists.[1] In 1982, he officially launched his solo career with the album Lionel Richie, which sold over four million copies and spawned the singles "You Are", "My Love", and the number one single "Truly".

Richie's second album, Can't Slow Down (1983), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time; and spawned the number one singles "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello". He then co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies.[2] His third album, Dancing on the Ceiling (1986), spawned the number one single "Say You, Say Me" (from the 1985 film White Nights) and the No. 2 hit title track. From 1986 to 1996, Richie took a break from recording; he has since then released seven studio albums. He has joined the singing competition American Idol to serve as a judge, starting from its sixteenth season (2018 to present).[3]

During his solo career, Richie became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.[4] He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for "We Are the World", and Album of the Year for Can't Slow Down.[5] "Endless Love" was nominated for an Academy Award; while "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song.[6] In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.[7] In 2022, he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress;[8] as well as the American Music Awards Icon Award.[9] He was also inducted into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.[10]

  1. ^ "Hot 100 turns 60". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Leopold, Todd (January 28, 2015). "'We Are the World' at 30: Where are they now?". CNN. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  3. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 5, 2019). "'American Idol' Judges Close Deals to Return for Season 3 on ABC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  4. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (May 8, 2012). "Lionel Richie, 'Tuskegee' Album Certified Platinum". The Boot. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lionel Richie". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference GBA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Rothman, Michael (June 10, 2016). "Lionel Richie, Chic's Nile Rodgers and More Enter Songwriters Hall of Fame". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  8. ^ Ulaby, Neda (January 13, 2022). "The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is going to pop star Lionel Richie". NPR. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Irvin, Jack (November 7, 2022). "Lionel Richie Says It's 'Surreal' to Receive Icon Award at the 2022 AMAs: 'I'm Immensely Grateful'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  10. ^ "Eminem, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie Lead Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Class". Rolling Stone. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.