Lionel Richie made his solo debut in 1982 with the album Lionel Richie and the number-one hit “Truly”. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.
I grew up at a time when you were not able to turn on the radio without hearing a Lionel Richie song! Lionel’s songs inspired your heart and stretched your mind.
Here are five songs you must add to your song collection.
#1 All Night Long
Richie’s 1982 self-titled debut contained three hit singles: the U.S. #1 song “Truly”, which 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 #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, includingAlbum of the Year, propelling him into the first rank of international superstars. The album contained the #1 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, Richie performed “All Night Long” at the closing ceremony of the XXIII Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM
#2 Hello.
This was the most successful ballad “Hello” ever. It was a sentimental love song that showed how far Richie had moved from his R&B roots.
#3 We Are The World
“We Are the World” is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide.
#4 Say You, Say Me
“Say You, Say Me” is a song written and recorded by Lionel Richie for the film White Nights, starring Mikhail Baryshnikovand Gregory Hines. The single hit #1 in the US and on the R&B singles charts in December 1985. It became Richie’s ninth number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
#5 Endless Love
The film’s theme song, performed by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie and also called “Endless Love”, became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the biggest-selling single in Ross’ career. Billboard magazine chose it as “The Best Duet of All Time” in 2011, 30 years after its debut. It spent 9 weeks at #1 and received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for “Best Original Song”, along with 5 Grammy nominations. The soundtrack peaked at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified platinum. It also featured a second duet between Ross and Richie, “Dreaming of You,” that received considerable airplay but was never released as a single.
Lionel’s songs come from a great place! His heart is filled with the beauty and love of his talent for telling a story.
Lionel Richie helped to raise over $3.1 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. He was the featured performer at the Foundation’s Soirée Bouquet, the annual spring gala, in 2003.
Richie told the crowd that his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 80s, but 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.
Lionel Richie was be honored as the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy, and Bill Silva, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board. Proceeds from the 26th annual benefit gala dinner and concert — to be held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week two nights prior to the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards — will provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.
To date, performers include multi-GRAMMY-winning artists Yolanda Adams, Dave Grohl, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Rihanna, the Roots, Usher, Pharrell Williams, and Stevie Wonder; and singer/songwriters Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Ellie Goulding, Demi Lovato, Chris Stapleton, and Florence Welch. Rickey Minor, current music director for “American Idol” and past two-time music director for the GRAMMY Awards, will be the evening’s musical director. Late night television personality Jimmy Kimmel will host the event.
Richie is being honored as the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his significant creative accomplishments as well as his career-spanning charitable work, which has included support for an impressive range of causes over the years, ranging from AIDS and human rights to famine, poverty, human trafficking and women’s issues. He is also a longtime contributor to the United Negro College Fund.
The 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will began with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction was followed by a dinner, the award presentation and a tribute concert featuring renowned musicians.