Last Updated on February 23, 2024
Who is Lionel Richie?
Lionel Richie Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television judge. He made a name for himself in the 1970s during his time as a co-lead singer of the American funk and soul band, Commodores. He wrote and recorded the ballad hit singles: Easy, Sail On, Three Times a Lady, and Still with the band.
In 1980, he wrote and produced the single “Endless Love” alongside Diana Ross, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the biggest career hit for both artists. He formally launched his solo career with the album, Lionel Richie, which sold over four million copies worldwide. It spawned the hit singles: You Are, Truly, and My Love.
Richie has received a Golden Globe Award and four Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year in 1985.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. |
| Popular Name: | Lionel Richie |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | June 20, 1949 |
| Age: | 73 years |
| Parents: | Lionel Brockman Richie Sr., Alberta R. Foster |
| Siblings: | Deborah Joyce Richie |
| Birth Place: | Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American |
| Education: | Joliet Township High School, Tuskegee Institute, Auburn University |
| Marital Status: | Unmarried |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Brenda Harvey (m. 1975; div. 1993), Diane Alexander (m. 1995; div. 2004) |
| Children: | Miles Brockman, Sofia Richie, Nicole Richie |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $230 Million |
| Source of Wealth: | Singer, Songwriter, American Idol Judge |
| Height: | 5ft10 (1.8m) |
| Weight: | 77kg (170lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
On June 20, 1949, Lionel Richie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, to Alberta R. Foster, a teacher, and Lionel Brockman Richie Sr., a U.S. Army System Analyst.
Richie grew up at the campus of Tuskegee Institute and attended Joliet Township High School, where he was a star tennis player. Due to his skills, a tennis scholarship was given to him to study at Tuskegee Institute. He graduated with a B.sc degree in economics.
He became a singer and saxophonist in 1968 with the Commodores, who initially signed a recording deal with Atlantic Records and, later on, Motown Records. His first writing credit was the song “Happy People,” which he co-wrote with Donald Baldwin and Jeffrey Bowen.
In 1982, Richie released his first solo album, Lionel Richie. A year later, he released his second album, Can’t Slow Down, which peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, earned him two Grammy Awards, and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
In 1984, at the closing ceremony of the 23rd Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he performed “All Night Long.” He has released eight more albums, namely: Dancing on the Ceiling, Louder than Words, Time, Renaissance, Just for You, Coming Home, Just Go, and Tuskegee.
In 2011, he appeared on NBC’s television documentary series “Who Do You Think You Are?”, where he found out that his maternal great-grandfather, J. Louis Brown, was the national leader of the Knights of Wise Men. The group was an early African-American fraternal organization established for black men in the post-Civil War period.
In September 2017, ABC declared that Richie would be a judge for the reboot of American Idol. He has been a judge for four seasons of the show and is scheduled to appear again for his fifth season in 2022.
In 2017, Richie was honored at Berklee College of Music. He also won an Honorary Doctorate of Music Award and received the Kennedy Center Honors. Later that year, Richie secured the rights to produce a Curtis Mayfield biopic. In addition, he received the Johnny Mercer Award in 2016 and was awarded the Gershwin prize in 2022.
Lionel Richie’s Net Worth
Lionel Richie’s biggest paydays came from his music career. In 2019, he reportedly earned $10 million during his first season as a judge on ABC’s American Idol.
He has also signed several endorsement deals with popular brands such as Lion Nathan and Tap King, for which he made $1.5 Million after appearing in the promotional campaign for the beer product.
All of the above make up his staggering net worth of $230 million.
Lessons Learnt from the Life of Lionel Richie
Constantly Impact Lives Around You.
“People have allowed me into their homes and lives through my music and words.” ~Lionel Richie
Lionel is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the twentieth century, selling over 150 million copies of his music worldwide. He wrote the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” alongside Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
The record sales of Richie’s music are proof that millions of souls have enjoyed listening to his music over the years. We should ensure that our daily actions impact the lives of people around us positively.
Discover Yourself.
“I don’t think I’m going to be priest material.” ~Lionel Richie
Richie initially considered studying divinity to become a priest in the church where he had been baptized but later discarded the thought as he did not consider himself “priest material.”
It is essential that you identify what works for you. Realize that one thing you’re so great at and do your best to create magic.
Admire and Improve Your Craft.
“At first, when I came up with the idea for ‘Tuskegee,’ I did not want to be confined by boundaries of genre, demographics, or age. I am thrilled with how well people have received this album from all walks of life. It is truly living up to our vision when we created it.” ~Lionel Richie
His 2012 album “Tuskegee” featured several of his hit songs alongside famous country singers, topped the Billboard 200 after twenty-five long years, and achieved platinum status within the first six weeks of release. Richie relieved the feeling of his music sitting on the charts once again.
As much as it is vital to be consistent in what we do, the role of creativity should not be underestimated. Try new ways of improving your craft to yield better results.
