Lionel Richie

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. is an American R&B singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, actor, and television judge. During the 1970s, he recorded with funk band the Commodores, and his solo career made him one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s.

Beginning in 1968, Richie was a member of the Commodores. The Commodores became established as a popular soul group; their first several albums had a danceable, funky sound, with tracks such 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".

Richie quit the band in 1981 for a solo career. He released his self-titled debut in 1982. The album hit No. 3 on the charts and sold over 4 million copies. His follow up album, Can’t Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year in ‘84. His third album, ‘86’s Dancing On The Ceiling spawned such hits as Say You, Say Me, Dancing on the Ceiling, and Se La. Richie also co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies.

Over the course of his career, Richie has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time. He won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Can't Slow Down, and his other Grammy Awards include Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) in 1985 and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Truly" in 1983.

Richie has been nominated for two Golden Globe awards and won one. In 1982, he was nominated for Best Original Song for the film Endless Love. In 1986, he won the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song for "Say You, Say Me", featured in the film White Nights. The song also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.

Since 2018, Richie has served with Luke Bryan and Katy Perry as a judge for the singing competition American Idol.