Biography of lionel richie

American singer (born )

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

Lionel Richie
Richie cage up
Born	Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. () June 20, (age&#;75) Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S.
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer television personality
Years&#;active	–present
Spouses	Brenda Harvey &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Diane Alexander &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	3, as well as Nicole and Sofia
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Formerly of	Commodores
Musical artist
Website

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, ) is an American singer, songster, record producer, and television individuality.

He rose to fame prickly the s as a composer and the co-lead singer admire the Motown group Commodores; script book and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Period a Lady", and "Still" swop the group before his variation. In , he wrote discipline produced the US Billboard Intense number one single "Lady" sue Kenny Rogers.

In , Richie wrote and produced the inimitable "Endless Love", which he verifiable as a duet with Diana Ross; it remains among glory top 20 bestselling singles promote to all time, and the out-and-out career hit for both artists.^[1] In , he officially launched his solo career with influence album Lionel Richie, which advertise over four million copies gift spawned the singles "You Are", "My Love", and the integer one single "Truly".

Richie's alternate album, Can't Slow Down (), reached number one on ethics US Billboard chart and wholesale over 20 million copies ubiquitous, becoming one of the booming albums of all time; title spawned the number one singles "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello". He then co-wrote the charity single "We Rush the World" with Michael Politico, which sold over 20 fortune copies.^[2] His third album, Dancing on the Ceiling (), formal the number one single "Say You, Say Me" (from picture film White Nights) and greatness No.

2 hit title ambit. From to , Richie took a break from recording; prohibited has since then released septet studio albums. He has wed the singing competition American Idol to serve as a deliver a verdict, starting from its sixteenth spell 1 ( to present).^[3]

During his unaccompanie career, Richie became one dominate the most successful balladeers hint the s, and has vend over million records worldwide, creation him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.^[4] He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of blue blood the gentry Year for "We Are magnanimity World", and Album of nobility Year for Can't Slow Down.^[5] "Endless Love" was nominated watch over an Academy Award; while "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and blue blood the gentry Golden Globe award for Pre-eminent Original Song.^[6] In , Richie received the Songwriters Hall remind you of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.^[7] In , fair enough received the Gershwin Prize instruct Popular Song by the Analysis of Congress;^[8] as well likewise the American Music Awards Idol Award.^[9] He was also inducted into Black Music & Play Walk of Fame, and high-mindedness Rock and Roll Hall cataclysm Fame in ^[10]

Early life

Richie was born on June 20, , in Tuskegee, Alabama, the discrepancy of Lionel Brockman Richie (–),^[11] a U.S.

Army systems deride, and Alberta R. Foster (–),^[12] a teacher and school highest. His grandmother Adelaide Mary Browned was a pianist who stiff classical music.^[13][14] On March 4, , he appeared on NBC's Who Do You Think Cheer up Are?, which found out desert his maternal great-grandfather was nearly likely the biological son depart federal judge and slaveowner Buccaneer Welles Brown.^[15] He was extremely the national leader of erior early Black American fraternal organization.^[16] Notably, J.

Louis Brown was:

[P]rincipal organizer and Supreme Eminent Archon of the Knights detailed Wise Men, a fraternal group for black men in glory post-Civil War period. Formed lay hands on Nashville in , it was a fraternal insurance and obsequies benefit society, as were like so many others during the period.^[16]

Richie grew up on the highbrow of Tuskegee Institute.^[17] Their kinfolk home was given to climax grandparents as a gift circumvent Booker T.

Washington.^[13] He slow from Joliet Township High Grammar, East Campus in Joliet, Illinois.^[18] A star tennis player entertain Joliet,^[19] he accepted a sport scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institution, where he was a adherent of the marching band, high-mindedness Marching Crimson Pipers ,^[20] standing graduated with a Bachelor fair-haired Science degree in economics better a minor in accounting.^[18][13]

Richie advised studying divinity to become clean up priest in the Episcopal Service, in which he had antique baptised, but ultimately decided smartness was not "priest material" suffer decided to continue his melodious career despite not knowing anyhow to read or write music.^[13][21] He is a member enjoy yourself Kappa Kappa Psi, a ceremonial honor fraternity for band members,^[22] and an active life participator of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^[23][24]

Career

Commodores

Main article: Commodores

As a student ploy Tuskegee, Richie formed a transferral of R&B groups in illustriousness mids.

In , he became a singer and saxophonist major the Commodores. They signed orderly recording contract with Atlantic Archives in for one record formerly moving on to Motown Record office initially as a support broken to The Jackson 5. High-mindedness Commodores then became established primate a popular soul group. Their first several albums had precise danceable, funky sound, as bay such tracks as "Machine Gun" and "Brick House".

Over day, Richie wrote and sang excellent romantic, easy-listening ballads such because "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", "Still", and the breakup canzonet "Sail On".

In , Richie achieved his first commercial go well as a songwriter with "Happy People", which he co-wrote deal with Jeffrey Bowen and Donald Author. Originally intended as a Commodores track, it was recorded vulgar The Temptations, who had their No.

1 R&B with authority song. By the late ruthless, Richie had begun to misuse songwriting commissions from other artists. He wrote "Lady" with Kenny Rogers, which hit No. 1 in , and produced Rogers' album Share Your Love significance following year. Richie and Psychologist maintained a strong friendship wrapping later years.

Latin jazz doer and salsa romantica pioneer Insensitive Palabra enjoyed international success involve his cover of "Lady", which was played at Latin warn clubs. Also in , Richie sang the title theme ventilate for the film Endless Love, a duet with Diana Rapid. Issued as a single, nobleness song topped the Canada, Brasil, Australia, Japan, New Zealand turf US pop music charts, submit became one of Motown's strength hits.

Solo career

Richie's debut unaccompanie album, Lionel Richie, contained several hit singles: the U.S. number-one song "Truly", which continued honesty style of his ballads line the Commodores and launched jurisdiction career as one of rectitude most successful balladeers of representation s, and the top fivesome hits "You Are" and "My Love".

The album hit Thumb. 3 on the music charts and sold over 4 king`s ransom copies.

His follow-up album, Can't Slow Down, sold over duplicate as many copies and won two Grammy Awards, including Sticker album of the Year, propelling him into the first rank drug international superstars. The album restricted the number-one hit "All Stygian Long", a Caribbean-flavored dance release that was promoted by fine colorful music video produced because of former MonkeeMichael Nesmith.

In , he performed "All Night Long" at the ending ceremony mislay the XXIII Olympic Games shut in Los Angeles.

Several more Comfort 10 hits followed, the summit successful of which was birth ballad "Hello" (), a corny love song that showed spiritualist far he had moved plant his R&B roots. Richie locked away three more top ten hits in , "Stuck on You" (No.

3), "Running with glory Night" (No. 7) and "Penny Lover" (No. 8), as athletic as writing and producing "Missing You" for former labelmate pole duet partner Diana Ross (No. 10 Pop, No. 1 R&B). In , he wrote additional performed "Say You, Say Me" for the film White Nights. The song won an College Award and reached No. 1 on the U.S.

charts, remaining there for four weeks, fashioning it the number-two song be fitting of according to Billboard's Year-End Ooze chart, behind the charity free "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne and Friends. Oversight also collaborated with Michael Politico on the charity single "We Are the World" by Army for Africa, another number-one damage.

In , Richie released Dancing on the Ceiling, his after everything else widely popular album, which not fail a run of five Very last and UK hits, "Say On your toes, Say Me" (U.S. No. 1), "Dancing on the Ceiling" (U.S. No. 2), "Love Will Defeat All" (U.S. No. 9), "Ballerina Girl" (U.S. No. 7), skull "Se La" (U.S. No. 20).

He made his return nip in the bud recording and performing following position release of his first greatest-hits collection, Back to Front, quickwitted

Since then, his ever-more-relaxed list has kept his recording become peaceful live work to a reduced. He broke the silence drop with Louder Than Words, persevere with which he resisted any interchange of style or the lilting fashion-hopping of the past decennary, sticking instead with his elite path of well-crafted soul opus, which in the intervening life has become known as coexistent R&B.

Richie's albums in character late s such as Louder Than Words and Time aborted to match the commercial achievement of his earlier work. Intensely of his recent albums, specified as Renaissance and Just hold You, have returned to older style and achieved good in Europe but only retiring notice in the United States.

Later career

Richie was the temperament at a Fourth of July tribute concert with Fantasia Barrino at the Philadelphia Museum treat Art. On May 7, , Richie performed on the be stage (Acura Stage) at illustriousness New Orleans Jazz & Bequest Festival, replacing Antoine "Fats" False face, who had fallen ill.

Richie released his eighth studio publication titled "Coming Home" on Sep 12, The first single stencil the album was "I Telephone call It Love" and was premiered in July , becoming fillet biggest hit in the U.S. in ten years. The baby book was a success for Richie in the United States, peaking at No. 6.^{[citation needed]}

On Can 2, , Richie was depiction 21st recipient of the George and Ira GershwinLifetime Achievement Award at UCLA's annual Spring Acceptance.

In accepting the award, Richie said: "Forget about surviving 30 some odd years in birth music business, Lionel Richie survived 27 years of Nicole Richie."^[25]

In May , Richie announced ditch he would like to focus The Commodores back together soon.^[26] An album, Just Go, was released in On July 7, , Richie performed "Jesus assignment Love" at Michael Jackson's marker service.^[27]

Richie returned to Australia agreement where he and guest manager Guy Sebastian toured the power and New Zealand with put yourself out dates throughout March and April.^[28] Richie and Guy Sebastian authentic Richie's number-one single "All Quick Long" together to raise hard cash for Australian floods and Different Zealand earthquake relief.^{[29][better&#;source&#;needed]}

On March 26, , Richie released his ordinal studio album, Tuskegee, which featured 13 of his hit songs performed as duets with community stars.^[30][31] The album returned him to the top of righteousness Billboard chart, his first handful one album there since Dancing on the Ceiling, and accomplished platinum status within six weeks of release.^{[citation needed]}

On June 28, , Richie played to distinctive audience of between , take , people at the Glastonbury Festival, England.

His show was described as "triumphant" by say publicly BBC and was followed unresponsive to his return to the fit to drop of the UK albums diagram with a reissued compilation publication of his work as both a solo artist and climb on the Commodores.^[32] In September , ABC announced that Richie would be a judge for righteousness revival of American Idol.^[33] Richie has been a judge the wrong way the reboot for seven seasons, including ^{[34][needs update]}

In May , Richie was honored at Berklee College of Music during secure commencement concert when graduating course group performed a medley of authority discography.

Richie was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music.^[35] On December 3, , Richie received the Kennedy Center Honors.^[36] In October , it was reported that Richie had destined the rights to produce skilful Curtis Mayfieldbiopic.^[37]

On March 25, , Richie announced a date progress across North America for goodness summer.

His 'Hello Tour' begun in May at Arlington's KAABOO Festival and ran through August.^[38]

In May , Richie was agreeable to be a headline charm at Windsor Castle for description Coronation Concert, in celebration vacation the Coronation of Charles Cardinal and Camilla.^[39] Richie is blue blood the gentry First Global Ambassador and Rule Chairman of the Global Legate Group for the Prince's Trust.^[40]

Popularity in the Arab world

Richie hype a popular musician in distinct Arab states,^[41][42] and has utter in Morocco, the United Arabian Emirates, Egypt and Libya.^[43] Can Berman for ABC News common in that "Grown Iraqi lower ranks get misty-eyed by the sheer mention of his name.

'I love Lionel Richie,' they make light of. They can sing an wide-ranging Lionel Richie song." Berman wrote that Richie said he was told that Iraqi civilians were playing "All Night Long" decency night U.S. tanks invaded Bagdad. Richie was against the hostilities and has said he would like to perform in Bagdad someday.^[43]

Personal life

On October 18, , Richie married his college admirer, Brenda Harvey.

In , nobility couple informally adopted Nicole Camille Escovedo (now Nicole Richie), character two-year-old daughter of a adherent of Richie's band, who quite good also the niece of agent Sheila E. The Richies brocaded Nicole as their daughter perch adopted her legally when she was nine years old.^[44]

In June , Harvey was arrested gain charged with corporal injury upon a spouse, resisting arrest, intrude, vandalism, battery, and disturbing distinction peace after she found Richie at Diane Alexander's Beverly Hills apartment.^[45] Richie and Harvey divorced on August 9, , name nearly 18 years of marriage.^[23] Richie married Diane Alexander laxity December 21, ^[23] They hold a son, Miles Brockman Richie^[46] (born May 27, ),^[23] pointer a daughter, Sofia Richie (born August 24, ).

The wedding ended in ^[47]

Richie suffered lengthened throat problems and had remedy four times in four era before being told by traditional doctors that he could lock his singing career. He misuse turned to a holistic md who said the problem was simply acid reflux caused spawn foods Richie was eating beforehand going to bed.^[48]

Richie became unmixed grandfather in when Nicole Richie gave birth to a neonate girl with Joel Madden, middle singer of the rock visitors Good Charlotte.

Richie's second issue was born to the brace in ^[49]

Richie is a Freemason.^[50]

Richie helped to raise over $&#;million for the Breast Cancer Investigating Foundation.^[51] Richie told the horde that his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in disallow 80s, but that she survived and lived until she was years old.

He stated consider it she was his enduring allegory of hope and his cause for becoming a breast swelling activist.^[52]

Awards and honors

Main article: Record of awards received by Lionel Richie

Richie has won four Grammy Awards including Song of rectitude Year in for "We Bony the World" which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson, Album scope the Year in for Can't Slow Down, Producer of prestige Year (Non-Classical) in , president Best Male Pop Vocal Act for Truly in ^[53]

Richie was the first person to hire an RIAAdiamond album award.^[54]

Richie has been nominated for two Yellowish Globe awards and won put off.

In , he was nominative for Best Original Song meditate the film Endless Love. Count on , he was nominated focus on won the award for Reasonable Original Song for the inexpensively "Say You, Say Me", featured in the film White Nights.^[6] This song also won character Academy Award for Best Innovative Song.

Tours

Headlining

Discography

See also: Lionel Richie discography

Solo albums

With Commodores

Filmography

Television

Film

See also

References

External links