Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and television personality. He gained prominence in the 1970s as a songwriter and co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores, writing and performing hits such as "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady", and "Still" before leaving the group. In 1980, he wrote and produced the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single "Lady" for Kenny Rogers. In 1981, Richie wrote and produced "Endless Love", a duet with Diana Ross, which became one of the top 20 bestselling singles of all time and a career highlight for both artists. He launched his solo career in 1982 with the album "Lionel Richie", which sold over four million copies and included the singles "You Are", "My Love", and the number one hit "Truly". His second album, "Can't Slow Down" (1983), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 20 million copies worldwide, producing the number one singles "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello". Richie co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies. His third album, "Dancing on the Ceiling" (1986), featured the number one single "Say You, Say Me" from the film "White Nights" and the No. 2 hit title track. Following a recording hiatus from 1986 to 1996, Richie has released seven additional studio albums. He has also served as a judge on the singing competition "American Idol" since its sixteenth season in 2018. During his solo career, Richie became known for his ballads and has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for "We Are the World" and Album of the Year for "Can't Slow Down". "Endless Love" was nominated for an Academy Award, while "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. In 2016, Richie received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress and the American Music Awards Icon Award. He was also inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Studio albums Lionel Richie (1982) Can't Slow Down (1983) Dancing on the Ceiling (1986) Louder Than Words (1996) Time (1998) Renaissance (2000) Just for You (2004) Coming Home (2006) Just Go (2009) Tuskegee (2012) . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.