Lionel Richie

Biography

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, 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×Endless Love1981 · Single · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAEndless Love4:26BEndless Love (instrumental)2:50", 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. 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×TrulyNovember 1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Truly3:192Just Put Some Love in Your Heart1:21".
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)×All Night Long (All Night)1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAll Night Long (All Night) (vocal)6:22BAll Night Long (All Night) (instrumental)6:42" and "Hello×Hello1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHello4:07BYou Mean More To Me3:01". He then co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies. His third album, Dancing on the Ceiling×Dancing on the Ceiling1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Dancing on the Ceiling4:362Se La5:553Ballerina Girl3:404Don't Stop8:095Deep River Woman4:396Love Will Conquer All5:437Tonight Will Be Alright5:098Say You, Say Me4:049Night Train (Smooth Alligator)4:59 (1986), contained 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 16th season (2018 to present).
During his solo career, Richie became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time. 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. "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.
In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award. In 2022, he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress; as well as the American Music Awards Icon Award. He was also inducted into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early life

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. was born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the son of Lionel Brockman Richie Sr., a U.S. Army systems analyst, and Alberta R. Foster, a teacher and school principal. His grandmother Adelaide Mary Brown was a pianist who played classical music. On March 4, 2011, he appeared on NBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, which found out that his maternal great-grandfather, J. Louis Brown, was most likely the biological son of federal judge and slaveowner Morgan Welles Brown. He was also the national leader of an early Black American fraternal organization. Notably, J. Louis Brown was:

[P]rincipal organizer and Supreme Grand Archon of the Knights of Wise Men, a fraternal organization for black men in the post-Civil War period. Formed in Nashville in 1879, it was a fraternal insurance and burial benefit society, as were so many others during the period.
Richie grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute. Their family home was given to his grandparents as a gift from Booker T. Washington. He graduated from Joliet Township High School, East Campus in Joliet, Illinois. A star tennis player in Joliet, he accepted a tennis scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institute, where he was a member of the marching band, the Marching Crimson Pipers , and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a minor in accounting.
Richie considered studying divinity to become a priest in the Episcopal Church, in which he had been baptised, but ultimately decided he was not "priest material" and decided to continue his musical career despite not knowing how to read or write music. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honor fraternity for band members, and an active life member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Commodores

As a student in Tuskegee, Richie formed a succession of R&B groups in the mid-1960s. In 1968, he became a singer and saxophonist with the Commodores. They signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1968 for one record before moving on to Motown Records initially as a support act to The Jackson 5. The Commodores then became established as a popular soul group. Their first several albums had a danceable, funky sound, as in such tracks as "Machine Gun" and "Brick House". Over time, Richie wrote and sang more romantic, easy-listening ballads such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", "Still", and the breakup ballad "Sail On".
In 1974, Richie achieved his first commercial success as a songwriter with "Happy People", which he co-wrote with Jeffrey Bowen and Donald Baldwin. Originally intended as a Commodores track, it was recorded by The Temptations, who had their No. 1 R&B with the song. By the late 1970s, Richie had begun to accept songwriting commissions from other artists. He wrote "Lady" for Kenny Rogers, which hit No. 1 in 1980, and produced Rogers' album Share Your Love the following year. Richie and Rogers maintained a strong friendship in later years. Latin jazz composer and salsa romantica pioneer La Palabra enjoyed international success with his cover of "Lady", which was played at Latin dance clubs. Also in 1981, Richie sang the title theme song for the film Endless Love, a duet with Diana Ross. Issued as a single, the song topped the Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and US pop music charts, and became one of Motown's biggest hits.

Solo career

Richie's 1982 debut solo album, Lionel Richie, contained three hit singles: the U.S. number-one song "Truly×TrulyNovember 1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Truly3:192Just Put Some Love in Your Heart1:21", which continued the style of his ballads with the Commodores and launched his career as one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and the top five hits "You Are" and "My Love". The album hit No. 3 on the music charts and sold over 4 million copies.
His 1983 follow-up album, Can't Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, propelling him into the first rank of international superstars. The album contained the number-one hit "All Night Long", a Caribbean-flavored dance number that was promoted by a colorful music video produced by former Monkee Michael Nesmith. In 1984, he performed "All Night Long" at the ending ceremony of the XXIII Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Several more Top 10 hits followed, the most successful of which was the ballad "Hello×Hello1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHello4:07BYou Mean More To Me3:01" (1984), a sentimental love song that showed how far he had moved from his R&B roots. Richie had three more top ten hits in 1984, "Stuck on You×Stuck on You1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAStuck on You3:10BRound and Round4:48" (No. 3), "Running with the Night×Running With the NightDecember 1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARunning With the Night5:55BServes You Right5:08" (No. 7) and "Penny Lover×Penny Lover1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAPenny Lover3:46BTell Me4:06" (No. 8), as well as writing and producing "Missing You" for former labelmate and duet partner Diana Ross (No. 10 Pop, No. 1 R&B). In 1985, he wrote and performed "Say You, Say Me" for the film White Nights. The song won an Academy Award and reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts, staying there for four weeks, making it the number-two song of 1986 according to Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 chart, behind the charity single "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne and Friends. He also collaborated with Michael Jackson on the charity single "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, another number-one hit.
In 1986, Richie released Dancing on the Ceiling, his last widely popular album, which produced a run of five US and UK hits, "Say You, Say Me" (U.S. No. 1), "Dancing on the Ceiling×Dancing on the Ceiling1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Dancing on the Ceiling4:362Se La5:553Ballerina Girl3:404Don't Stop8:095Deep River Woman4:396Love Will Conquer All5:437Tonight Will Be Alright5:098Say You, Say Me4:049Night Train (Smooth Alligator)4:59" (U.S. No. 2), "Love Will Conquer All" (U.S. No. 9), "Ballerina Girl" (U.S. No. 7), and "Se La" (U.S. No. 20). He made his return to recording and performing following the release of his first greatest-hits collection, Back to Front, in 1992.
Since then, his ever-more-relaxed schedule has kept his recording and live work to a minimum. He broke the silence in 1996 with Louder Than Words, on which he resisted any change of style or the musical fashion-hopping of the past decade, sticking instead with his chosen path of well-crafted soul music, which in the intervening years has become known as contemporary R&B.
Richie's albums in the late 1990s such as Louder Than Words×Louder Than Words3 April 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Piece of Love4:052Still in Love4:333I Wanna Take You Down5:014Can’t Get Over You4:345Change5:026Nothing Else Matters4:357Ordinary Girl5:018Say I Do5:019Paradise5:0210Don’t Wanna Lose You5:0211Now You’re Gone5:4312Lovers at First Sight6:5913What Do They Know3:5114Climbing6:27 and Time failed to match the commercial success of his earlier work. Some of his recent albums, such as Renaissance×Renaissance16 October 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Angel (Metro mix album version)4:152Cinderella3:423Tender Heart4:294Dance the Night Away5:085Tonight4:326How Long3:557Don’t You Ever Go Away4:138Wasted Time4:089Piece of My Heart4:1510It May Be the Water4:5611Here Is My Heart4:0412Don’t Stop the Music4:2813Angel (Boogieman remix-extended)6:43 and Just for You×Just for You2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Just for You4:342I Still Believe4:543Long Long Way to Go4:214Just to Be With You Again3:325She's Amazing4:366Ball and Chain3:167The World Is a Party3:258Time of Our Life5:089Outrageous4:3110Road to Heaven4:2011Dance for the World4:0812Do Ya2:4013In My Dreams4:5614One World3:52, have returned to his older style and achieved success in Europe but only modest notice in the United States.

Later career

Richie was the headliner at a 2006 Fourth of July tribute concert with Fantasia Barrino at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On May 7, 2006, Richie performed on the main stage (Acura Stage) at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, replacing Antoine "Fats" Domino, who had fallen ill. Richie released his eighth studio album titled "Coming Home×Coming Home11 September 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1I Call It Love3:222Sweet Vacation3:593Why4:034What You Are4:145Up All Night3:386I’m Coming Home4:217All Around the World3:378Out of My Head3:169Reason to Believe4:5010Stand Down4:0411I Love You4:1412I Apologize3:38" on September 12, 2006. The first single of the album was "I Call It Love" and was premiered in July 2006, becoming his biggest hit in the U.S. in ten years. The album was a success for Richie in the United States, peaking at No. 6.
On May 2, 2008, Richie was the 21st recipient of the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award at UCLA's annual Spring Sing. In accepting the award, Richie said: "Forget about surviving 30 some odd years in the music business, Lionel Richie survived 27 years of Nicole Richie."
In May 2009, Richie announced that he would like to get The Commodores back together soon. An album, Just Go×Just Go13 March 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Forever3:192Just Go4:183Nothing Left to Give3:334Forever and a Day4:045I’m Not Okay3:296Good Morning4:087Through My Eyes4:078I’m in Love4:069Think of You4:1210Into You Deep5:2011Pastime3:5312Face in the Crowd4:2213Somewhere in London5:0714Eternity4:3815Just Go (Mike Rizzo Funk Generation radio edit)4:0616Just Go (Rich Morel’s radio edit)3:3217Just Go (Friscia and Lamboy radio edit)3:3518Just Go (Mike Rizzo Funk Generation club)6:5319Just Go (Rich Morel’s Pink Noise club)7:5020Just Go (Friscia and Lamboy After Dark club)7:1021Just Go (Mike Rizzo Funk Generation dub)6:5422Just Go (Rich Morel’s Pink Noise dub)7:4423Just Go (Friscia and Lamboy After Dark dub)7:3024Face in the Crowd (instrumental)4:22, was released in 2009. On July 7, 2009, Richie performed "Jesus is Love" at Michael Jackson's memorial service.
Richie returned to Australia in 2011 where he and guest artist Guy Sebastian toured the country and New Zealand with concert dates throughout March and April. Richie and Guy Sebastian recorded Richie's 1983 number-one single "All Night Long" together to raise money for Australian floods and New Zealand earthquake relief.
On March 26, 2012, Richie released his tenth studio album, Tuskegee×Tuskegee5 March 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1You Are5:012Say You, Say Me5:093Stuck on You3:224Deep River Woman4:105My Love5:336Dancing on the Ceiling4:207Hello4:308Sail On5:069Endless Love4:2010Just for You4:1211Lady4:1012Easy4:3113All Night Long4:58, which featured 13 of his hit songs performed as duets with country stars. The album returned him to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, his first number one album there since Dancing on the Ceiling×Dancing on the Ceiling1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Dancing on the Ceiling4:362Se La5:553Ballerina Girl3:404Don't Stop8:095Deep River Woman4:396Love Will Conquer All5:437Tonight Will Be Alright5:098Say You, Say Me4:049Night Train (Smooth Alligator)4:59, and achieved platinum status within six weeks of release.
On June 28, 2015, Richie played to an audience of between 100,000 and 120,000 people at the Glastonbury Festival, England. His show was described as "triumphant" by the BBC and was followed by his return to the top of the UK albums chart with a reissued compilation album of his work as both a solo artist and with the Commodores. In September 2017, ABC announced that Richie would be a judge for the revival of American Idol. Richie has been a judge on the reboot for seven seasons, including 2024.
In May 2017, Richie was honored at Berklee College of Music during its 2017 commencement concert when graduating students performed a medley of his discography. Richie was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music. On December 3, 2017, Richie received the Kennedy Center Honors. In October 2017, it was reported that Richie had secured the rights to produce a Curtis Mayfield biopic.
On March 25, 2019, Richie announced a 33-date tour across North America for the summer. His 'Hello Tour' started in May at Arlington's KAABOO Festival and ran through August.
In May 2023, Richie was invited to be a headline act at Windsor Castle for the Coronation Concert, in celebration of the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla. Richie is the First Global Ambassador and First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for the Prince's Trust.
In September 2025, Richie released his memoir, Truly, which reached #3 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Nonfiction.

Popularity in the Arab states

Richie is a popular musician in various Arab states, and has performed in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Libya. John Berman for ABC News reported in 2006 that "Grown Iraqi men get misty-eyed by the mere mention of his name. 'I love Lionel Richie,' they say. They can sing an entire Lionel Richie song." Berman wrote that Richie said he was told that Iraqi civilians were playing "All Night Long" the night U.S. tanks invaded Baghdad. Richie was against the war and has said he would like to perform in Baghdad someday.

Personal life

On October 18, 1975, Richie married his college sweetheart, Brenda Harvey. In 1983, the couple informally adopted Nicole Camille Escovedo (now Nicole Richie), the two-year-old daughter of a member of Richie's band, who is also the niece of drummer Sheila E. The Richies raised Nicole and adopted her legally when she was nine years old.
In June 1988, Harvey was arrested and charged with corporal injury to a spouse, resisting arrest, trespassing, vandalism, battery, and disturbing the peace after she found Richie at Diane Alexander's Beverly Hills apartment.
Richie married Diane Alexander on December 21, 1995. They have a son, Miles Richie, and a daughter, Sofia Richie. The marriage ended in 2004.
Richie became a grandfather in 2008 when Nicole Richie gave birth to a baby girl with Joel Madden, lead singer of the rock band Good Charlotte. Richie's second grandchild was born to the couple in 2009.
Richie is a Freemason.
Richie helped to raise over $3.1 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Richie told the crowd that his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 80s, but that she survived and lived until she was 103 years old. He stated that she was his enduring symbol of hope and his reason for becoming a breast cancer activist.

Health

Richie suffered prolonged throat problems and underwent surgery four times over a four-year period. Conventional doctors subsequently told him that he could lose his singing career. He later sought treatment from a holistic doctor, who attributed the problem to acid reflux caused by foods Richie was eating before going to bed.
On June 24, 2026, during a joint concert with Earth, Wind & Fire in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Richie became dizzy while performing, and the concert was cut short. As a precaution, subsequent concerts in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio were postponed. The tour resumed in Pittsburgh on June 30.
On August 29, 2026, following his concert at the Muny in St. Louis, Richie checked himself into an intensive care unit to undergo medical tests. He was discharged on September 2.
On September 22, 2026, Richie was hospitalized again for heart-related issues and was receiving treatment for atrial fibrillation. As a result, the next three dates of the "Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire" were canceled.

Headlining

Running With the Night Tour (1984)
The Outrageous Tour (1986–1987)
In Concert (1998–2001)
The One World Tour (2004)
Coming Home Tour (2007)
Just Go Tour (2009)
Tuskegee Tour (2012)
All the Hits, All Night Long (2013–2016)
All the Hits Tour (with Mariah Carey) (2017–2019)
Hello! Hits Tour (2019)
Sing a Song All Night Long Tour (with Earth, Wind & Fire) (2023–2024, 2026)
Say Hello To The Hits Tour (2024–2025)