KWXY Presents ● The Music of Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie / Publicity Photo / Guy Thomas Public Relations - Kragen & Company / IVOX MEDIA collection
Lionel Richie is a singer, songwriter, musician, producer and television host, spending four years as a judge on the Fox singing competition, American Idol. Richie was a co-lead singer of the successful funk band, the Commodores, before embarking on a solo career.
Known as a balladeer and credited with the creation of contemporary R&B, Richie is one of the world’s all-time best-selling artists with worldwide record sales of more than 100 million. A four-time Grammy winner, Richie was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He was born Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. in Tuskegee, Alabama on June 20, 1949. His father, Lionel Sr., was a system analyst for the Army and his mother, Alberta Foster, was a teacher. Richie grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute (known today as Tuskegee University) and graduated from Joliet Township High School in Joliet, Illinois. As a star high school tennis player, he was offered a tennis scholarship at Tuskegee Institute, graduating with a BS in economics. He is a life member of the Kappa Kappa Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities.
While at Tuskegee in the mid-1960s, Richie formed several R&B groups and became a saxophonist with the Commodores in 1968. Their popularity grew after signing with Motown Records first as a support act for The Jackson 5 and then on their own as a soul group. As a songwriter, his first commercial hit was “Happy People” in 1974 for The Temptations.
By the end of the decade, Richie began writing and producing for other artists, notably Kenny Rogers. Rogers had a number one hit in 1980 with Richie’s composition, “Lady” and a best-selling album produced by Richie, Share Your Love the following year. Encouraged by the phenomenal success of the theme from the 1981 film Endless Love which was a duo with Diana Ross, Richie established his solo career in 1982.
“Lionel Richie” album cover / IVOX RADIO - The debut solo studio album released on October 6, 1982, on Motown Records.
His self-titled 1982 debut solo album yielded three hit ballads: “Truly,” “You Are” and “My Love.” His second album, Can’t Slow Down was even more successful, selling nearly nine million copies, two Grammys including Album of the Year and the number one single, “All Night Long.” 1984-86 yielded five more number one hits including his collaboration with Michael Jackson on the 1985 charity single, “We Are The World.” Richie performed the song “Jesus is Love” at Jackson’s memorial service in 2009.
Two of his children are successful in their own rights. Adopted daughter Nicole Richie is a musician, actress, fashion designer and television personality. Biological daughter Sofia Richie is a social media personality, fashion designer and model.
Lionel Richie / Publicity Photo - The DeMann Entertainment Company / Mercury Records / Photo Credit: Alan Sifen / IVOX MEDIA collection
Lionel Richie continues to record and perform. He is also an activist for breast cancer awareness, raising more than $3.1 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. His honors and awards include four Grammy awards, the first-ever RIAA Diamond Album award, two Golden Globe nominations with one win and an Academy Award for “Say You, Say Me” from the 1985 film, White Knights.
KWXY Presents ● “The Music of Lionel Richie” today at 5pm hosted by Louie Comella, on KWXY Music Radio 92.3FM ● 1340AM ● streaming at kwxy.com & ivoxradio.com