Lionel Richie is the king of pop music and the most successful songwriter today. Richie began as a lead singer of the Commodores, a pop group with music fans in the early 1970s, and this started his distinguished solo career in 1982.
He won three Grammys, many American Music Awards, and a 1986 Oscar for Best Original Song with his film theme in White Knights ‘Say You Say Me.’ He was born in Alabama and exposed to many different kinds of music by his maternal grandfather, who taught him piano and classical composers.
He effectively showed talent even then and created his songs, and it didn’t go well at all. He signed with Motown Records and released albums.
Richie, after Leaving Commodores
In 1980, he produced the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single, ‘Lady’ for Kenny Rogers. In 2016, he won the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame’s Highest honor and was inducted into the Black Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
On ABC, he was a judge for the American Idol. Richie was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music. In 2017, Richie was honored at Berklee College of Music. Richie came to know that Iraqi civilians played ‘All Night Long’ when US tanks invaded Baghdad.
He was opposed to the war, and he said that he would perform in Baghdad. His musical styles are soul, rhythm and blues, funk, and country.
Delve into the history of Richie leaving the group Commodores.
The History of Richie Leaving The Group Commodores
The group Commodores went for dance and party music, but in the mid-1970s, Richie felt that it was becoming too short-term music. They proceeded to write ballads, and he moved towards other projects in 1980 and left Commodores for good in 1982 for Kenny Rogers, which soon became increasingly popular.
His first solo album after this became a Grammy winner as Best Male Vocalist in 1983. He flourished with Michael Jackson in ‘We Are the World.’ God told him what to write, and he credits his success to God.
Lionel Richie (Credits: BET)
He is trying to prove that Black people can play all types of music, and he is trying to break the stereotype. But between Commodores and Richie, there have been ill feelings for 30 years. For the members, it is about forgetting and thinking about it nicely, but it doesn’t happen.
This has been hinting at an unapologetic attitude and lack of forgiveness. He even said that he would come back, so the dislike is understandable.
They were mad at ‘procrastination’ because he never informed them that he was leaving. Another member misses him and gets to speak with him rarely. For Lionel Richie, the reunion takes a miracle.
They met at Tuskegee Institute as freshmen in 1968 and became a Grammy-winning group out of a total of nine nominations.
They have been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, selling over 70 million copies. ‘Nightshift’ won the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1985. They went on their European tour performing at Wembley Arena, London. Like Richie, they became popular after he left.
