lionel richie

Lionel Richie performing at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on July 6, 2006 Background information Birth name Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. Born June 20, 1949 (1949-06-20) (age 59)

Tuskegee, Alabama, United States Genre(s) R&B, soul, pop, quiet storm, soft rock, adult contemporary, country Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, actor Instrument(s) Singing, piano/keyboards, saxophone Years active 1968–present Label(s) Island, MCA, Mercury, Motown Associated acts Commodores, Nicole Richie Website www.lionelrichie.com

Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American singer, songwriter, record producer, and occasional actor, who has sold more than 100 million records. Contents [hide] 1 Career 1.1 Early years 1.2 The Commodores 1.3 Solo career 1.4 Long-lasting popularity and later career 1.5 Popularity in the Arab World 1.6 Dallas Austin character witness 2 Family 2.1 Marriage with Brenda Harvey 2.2 Nicole Richie 2.3 Marriage with Diane Alexander 2.4 Grandchildren 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 U.S. #1 Singles 4 Filmography 5 Breast cancer activist 6 References 7 External links //

Career

Early years

Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Richie grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute. His grandfather's house was across the street from the home of the president of the Institute. His family moved to Illinois where he graduated from Joliet Township High School, East Campus, in Joliet. A star tennis player in Joliet, he accepted a tennis scholarship back at Tuskegee Institute and later graduated with a major in economics.

The Commodores Main article: The Commodores

Back as a student in Tuskegee, he formed a succession of R&B groups in the mid-1960s. In 1968 he became the lead 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, being schooled as a support act to the Jackson Five. The Commodores became established as a popular soul group. Their first several albums had a danceable, funky sound (with 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" and "Still".

By the late 1970s he had begun to accept songwriting commissions from other artists. He composed "Lady" for Kenny Rogers, which hit #1 in 1980, and he produced Rogers' Share Your Love album the following year. Richie and Rogers have maintained a strong friendship in later years. Also in 1981, Richie sang a duet with Diana Ross in the theme song for the film Endless Love. Issued as a single, the song topped the UK and U.S. pop music charts, and it became one of Motown's biggest hits. Its success encouraged Richie to branch out into a full-fledged solo career in 1982. His debut album, Lionel Richie, produced another chart-topping single, "Truly", which