Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie is a singer, songwriter and American Idol judge whose songs connect the Commodores’ soul and funk with the pop ballads and singalongs of his solo career.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Lionel’s team an official invite.
🔒 Star boosts open once Lionel claims this page.
Latest
Lionel’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Motown
YouTube
USA for Africa
Motown
ABCOverview
- Born
- June 20, 1949 · Tuskegee, Alabama
- Work
- Singer, songwriter, producer and television judge
- How it started
- Saxophonist and singer with the Commodores
- Solo debut
- Lionel Richie · 1982
- Breakout songs
- Easy, Three Times a Lady, Truly, Hello and All Night Long
Mini bio
How it started.
Lionel grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama, and attended Tuskegee Institute on a tennis scholarship. While he was a student, his band the Mystics merged with the Jays in 1968 to become the Commodores. He played saxophone and grew into a singer and songwriter in a group rooted in soul and funk.
Finding his voice.
The Commodores gave him room to develop songs such as Easy and Three Times a Lady. In a later interview, he described learning from Motown writers and touring as an opening act for the Jackson 5. His work also reached country listeners: he wrote and produced Kenny Rogers’ Lady in 1980.
The solo songs.
His self-titled solo debut arrived in 1982. Can’t Slow Down followed in 1983, bringing together songs such as All Night Long, Hello and Stuck on You. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year. He co-wrote We Are the World with Michael Jackson and won an Oscar for Say You, Say Me from White Nights.
Still sharing the story.
American Idol introduced him to another generation of fans when he became a judge in 2018. More recently, he has added the memoir Truly and an executive producer credit on KPOPPED to a career that also includes his Las Vegas shows and touring with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 1986Dancing on the CeilingSolo artist
- 1985We Are the WorldCo-writer with Michael Jackson; USA for Africa vocalist
- 1983Can’t Slow DownSolo artist
- 1982Lionel RichieSolo artist; debut solo album
- 1980Lady · Kenny RogersSongwriter and producer
Television
- 2025KPOPPEDExecutive producer
- 2018–presentAmerican IdolJudge
Books
- 2025TrulyAuthor
Awards
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame2022 · Inducted in the Performer category.
- Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song2022 · Honored for his lifetime contribution to popular song.
- Academy Award1986 · Original Song for Say You, Say Me from White Nights.
- Golden Globe1986 · Original Song for Say You, Say Me.
- Grammy AwardsFour wins, including Album of the Year for Can’t Slow Down in 1985 and Song of the Year for We Are the World in 1986.
Quotes
Motown was the best incubator in the world.Lionel Richie, M Music & Musicians, January/February 2012
Recalling how he learned from fellow Motown songwriters while the Commodores were developing their sound.
Trivia
- Before music became his career, he attended Tuskegee Institute on a tennis scholarship.
- The Commodores chose their name by consulting a dictionary.
- He told M Music & Musicians that Lady began with the title Baby before a conversation with Kenny Rogers changed its direction.
Find Lionel
Follow Lionel for tour dates, songs and stories from his life in music.
Are you Lionel Richie?
Fans built this page. Claim it to connect with them and unlock Star boosts, or request a takedown if you’d rather it not exist.