Lionel Richie
Few pop artists in the 1980s reached the heights Lionel Richie enjoyed, from his viewed-by-billions performance at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics to his role as co-writer with Michael Jackson of the philanthropic single “We Are the World” to the sheer volume of his record sales.
Even before that '80s career took off, Richie had racked up some impressive credits. As a member of the Commodores, he wrote that group’s No. 1 hits "Three Times a Lady" and "Still." He also wrote and produced the Kenny Rogers hit "Lady," and his duet with Diana Ross, "Endless Love," was No. 1 for nine weeks.
His first three albums as a solo artist combined for a total sales figure of more than 18 million copies, with an album of the year Grammy for “Can't Slow Down.” Such songs as "Truly," "All Night Long (All Night)," "Hello" and "Say You, Say Me" illustrated his gift for infectious, pop-inflected R&B.
Richie, whose daughter Nicole Richie would attain her own brand of fame in the 2000s on reality TV, found things slowing down in 1987, and went on a hiatus that lasted for nearly a decade, after which he resumed regular recording and touring.
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Points of interest
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Best Original Song | "Endless Love" from Endless Love | Nomination |
| 1985 | Best Original Song | "Say You, Say Me" from White Nights | Win |
| 1985 | Best Original Song | "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" from The Color Purple | Nomination* |
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