366Art | Lionel Richie

Today, June 20th, is the birthday of Lionel Richie, an artist, writer, and producer with legendary status in the music world. The edit above and his portrait on the musical reference works/birthday calendars below were made by me, Frieke.

Lionel Richie was born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He is one of the most successful artists in pop and R&B music history, with a career spanning more than four decades. Richie began his musical career as a member of the legendary Motown group The Commodores. He was the lead singer and wrote many of their hits, includingEasy, Three times a Lady, Brick House and Sail On. In 1982, Lionel Richie left The Commodores to pursue a solo career. His departure had a significant impact on the band, and Richie’s time with The Commodores was crucial for both his own career and the band’s success. His contributions as lead singer and songwriter remain an important part of The Commodores' musical legacy.

In 1982, Lionel Richie released his debut solo album, Lionel Richie  which included hits such as Truly, You Are, and My Love. The following album, Can't Slow Down (1983), won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1984 and featured successful hits like Hello, All Night Long (All Night) andStuck on You. Other well-known songs include Say You, Say Me (from the film White Nights, which earned him an Oscar for Best Original Song), Dancing on the Ceiling, and Ballerina Girl.

Many of his songs have become classics and are still widely played. He is known for his versatility, with music ranging from soul, R&B, and pop to funk and country. Richie has collaborated with various artists and has also written many songs for other performers. He has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Say You, Say Me." He has also received American Music Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide.

Lionel Richie has been married twice. His first marriage was to Brenda Harvey, with whom he has an adopted daughter, Nicole Richie. His second marriage was to Diane Alexander, with whom he has two children: Miles Brockman Richie and Sofia Richie. Richie is involved in various charities and humanitarian efforts, including his work for the United Negro College Fund.

In addition to his successful musical career, Lionel Richie has contributed to various charitable and nonprofit organizations. His most well-known philanthropic efforts include being one of the original artists involved in writing and recording the song We Are the World. The song was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The project's goal was to raise money to combat famine in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. "We Are the World" became one of the best-selling singles of all time and raised millions of dollars for USA for Africa, the organization established to manage and distribute the proceeds. Richie has also supported the United Negro College Fund, which provides scholarships to African American students and financial support to historically black colleges and universities. Additionally, he has financially supported The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and AmfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research), among others.

Lionel Richie’s involvement in philanthropic and humanitarian efforts has improved the lives of many, especially in the fields of education, health, and disaster relief. Richie continues to perform, and his music remains beloved by fans worldwide. He is one of the most talented and influential artists in music history.