Legends: Lionel Richie

Lionel Brockman Richie, popularly known as Lionel Richie, is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer and actor. His music falls into the genres of pop, pop rock, Soul and R&B. Lionel Richie became a singe- cum- saxophonist with the Commodores -an American funk band popular during the 1970s and 1980s. The band went on to emerge as an established soul group. His self titled debut album, Lionel Richie, produced a chart-topper, "Truly," that was in keeping with the stylistic mode of the ballads of the Commodores. The song turned out to be the turning point of his career. The album also featured the hits "You Are" and "My Love." The album made it to the #3 slot. It also sold above 4 million copies. The band broke up in the year 1982. The album that followed it, Cant Slow Down was doubly successful commercially. It fetched Lionel Richie two Grammys. The album featured the #1 hit "All Night Long".

He had many top 10 hits to his credit but the most famous of the lot proved to be the romantic and sentimental ballad "Hello". Critics hailed him as the "the black Barry Manilow,"The year 1984 saw Richie produce three more Top Ten hits "Stuck on You" (#3), "Running with the Night" (#7) and "Penny Lover". The song "Say You, Say Me," from the film White Nights won him the Oscar award and also raced up the US charts to reach the #1 position and maintain the same for four weeks. This rare feat also rendered the song " the #1 song of 1985" as per Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Another #1 hit was "We are the World" with Michal Jackson aimed at raising funds for charity.Dancing on the Ceiling was his last popular album.It included the songs "Say You, Say Me" (U.S. #1), "Dancing on the Ceiling" (U.S. #2), "Ballerina Girl" (U.S. #7), and "Se La" (U.S. #20),

Of recent significance, Richie performed "Jesus is Love" at Michael Jackson's memorial service.Richie and Guy Sebastian have teamed up to record a duet,with in-demand producer Red One, to raise funds for flood and earthquake victims. Lionel Richie,in addition, won the Crystal award for Humanitarianism for social services. The legend continues to enthrall and has Five Grammys and a Golden globe to his credit. Recent survey has shown Lionel Richie's number "Stuck On You" to be the most popular love song of all time.

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