History Lionel Richie and The Commodores
Lional Richie
"Over 100million Records Sold Worldwide"
Many more Top 10 hits followed, the most successful being the ballad "Hello" (1984), Richie had three more Top Ten hits in 1984, "Stuck On You" (No3), "Running With the Night" (No7) and "Penny Lover" No8).
Lionel Richie. (Singer/Performer, piano player and sax player & Songwriter ) - born 20 June 1949, Tuskegee, Alabama.
He released his debut album in 1982, which contained three hit singles: "Truly" , "You Are" and "My Love". The album hit No3 on the music charts and sold over 4 million copies.
His 1983 follow up album, Can't Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won two Grammy Awards including Album Of The Year – moving him into the first stage of international superstardom. The album gave us the No1 hit "All Night Long",
In 1985 Lionel Richie wrote and performed theme song, "Say You, Say Me", for the film White Nights, this won him an Oscar and reaching No1 on the U.S. charts and staying there for about four weeks, earning him the No1 song of 1985 on the Billboard's end of year Hot 100 chart.
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson collaborated on the charity single "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, this became No1 hit song. In 1986, came Dancing on the Ceiling, his last widely popular album, which produced a string of US and UK hits including "Say You, Say Me" , "Dancing on the Ceiling" "Ballerina Girl" and "Se La", "All Night Long (All Night)", "Deep River Woman" . 1987, Richie took time out, He made his return to recording and performing following the release of his first greatest-hits collection, Back to Front, in 1992. Since then remained popular all over Eroupe and muched loved here in the UK.
On December 9, 2006, Richie hosted and performed live on the British television show An Audience with Lionel Richie.
After the Success of "Coming Home " in 2006 a new album "Just Go" was released in the Spring of 2009 - There was speculation about a Commodores Reunion in the near future. But nothing to date as been officialy comfirmed but we do hope this becomes a reality in the not too distant future !
The Commodores
The Commodores an American soul / funk band of the 1970's and 1980's.The group members met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute now called Tuskegee University in 1968, and signed up with the Motown label in 1972, The Commodores have sold over 65 million records worldwide and still touring to day. Original band Members Lionel Richie. (vocals, piano and sax ) - born 20 June 1949, Tuskegee, Alabama. Now Solo . (vocals, piano and sax ) - born 20 June 1949, Tuskegee, Alabama. Now Solo Milan Williams (keyboards, guitar) - born 28 March 1948 Okolona, Mississippi, who sadly died, July 9, 2006 Houston, Texas. William "WAK" King (trumpet, guitar, synth ) - born 30 January 1949, Alabama. Current Band Member (trumpet, guitar, synth ) - born 30 January 1949, Alabama. Current Band Member (keyboards, guitar) - born 28 March 1948 Okolona, Mississippi, who sadly died, July 9, 2006 Houston, Texas. (trumpet, guitar, synth ) - born 30 January 1949, Alabama. Current Band Member Walter Orange (vocals, drums) - born 10 December 1946, Florida. Current Band Member (vocals, drums) - born 10 December 1946, Florida. Current Band Member Thomas Mc Clary (lead guitar) - born 6 October 1949, Eustis, Florida. Now Ex member left in 1982 (lead guitar) - born 6 October 1949, Eustis, Florida. Now Ex member left in 1982 Ronald La Pread (bass guitar, trumpet) - born 4 September 1946, Alabama. Now Ex member left in 1986 and moved to New Zealand (bass guitar, trumpet) - born 4 September 1946, Alabama. Now Ex member left in 1986 and moved to New Zealand J.D. Nicholas Former Heatwave singer Replaced Lionel Richie as Co lead vocal The group are best known for their ballads, "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady", but the fans would also remember their hard funky dance floor hits like "Brick House", "Say Yeah", "Fancy Dancer", and "Too Hot To Trot". The Original name of the Commodores was " The Jays " but with it being a little close to that of the O'Jays. decided to change it. Their Instrumental "Machine Gun", from their debut album, as been featured in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It was a US Top 100 in 1975 reaching No.24. "Brick House" reached No.5 in the U.S. After this the group moved towards a softer sound. With the 1976 Top Ten hits "Sweet Love" and "(Just To Be) Close To You". In 1977 the Commodores had a ballad hit with "Easy", which became the group's biggest hit yet, reaching No.4 in the U.S. Former Heatwave singer Replaced Lionel Richie as Co lead vocal . (vocals, piano and sax ) - born 20 June 1949, Tuskegee, Alabama. Now Solo (keyboards, guitar) - born 28 March 1948 Okolona, Mississippi, who sadly died, July 9, 2006 Houston, Texas. (trumpet, guitar, synth ) - born 30 January 1949, Alabama. Current Band Member (vocals, drums) - born 10 December 1946, Florida. Current Band Member (lead guitar) - born 6 October 1949, Eustis, Florida. Now Ex member left in 1982 (bass guitar, trumpet) - born 4 September 1946, Alabama. Now Ex member left in 1986 and moved to New Zealand Former Heatwave singer Replaced Lionel Richie as Co lead vocal The group finally reached No1 in 1978 with "Three Times a Lady". More hits followed "Sail On" , "Still" , "Oh No" , and "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" After Lionel Richie left the band to pursue a solo career, former Heatwave singer J.D. Nicholas replaced him as Co lead vocals with drummer Walter "Clyde" Orange. With the exception of the Grammy Award winning hit song "Nightshift" a tribute to the late Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson This was the Commodores only Grammy Award in 1985.