In 1967, at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute, freshman Thomas McClary formed the
Mystics. The group consisted of six students including Lionel Richie. To impress girls, the Mystics began to perform
around campus, then enter and win a Tuskegee talent show. The Mystics decided to rename themselves in 1969,
when they joined with another group called the Jays, which included William King and Milan Williams. King tossed a
dictionary in the air, and when it landed pointed to a random word on the page it opened to. The Commodores were
born.
While they were continued their studies, the group began performing in Montgomery, Alabama and quickly gained an
avid following. A major turning point occurred in the group's career when they met Benjamin Ashburn, a street-wise
marketing expert who became their manager. Through careful planning and extensive road tours, the Commodores
gained worldwide notoriety by touring in the New York and European Club Scene. In 1971, The Commodores
auditioned for the opening act of the Jackson 5 European tour. They were signed by Motown and tour with the Jackson
5 in November. They subsequently headlined in Japan and drew in 150,000 fans in four days in the Philippines,
breaking the record the Beatles had set years before.
In 1974, their first album "Machine Gun" became the best-selling international album to date. The instrumental single
"Machine Gun" written by Williams crossed over from the R&B charts to the hit #22 on the U.S. charts. Signifying its
international appeal the single was played after the national anthem at the close-down of Nigerian television and radio
stations.
The Commodores weare still in university when they released two more albums. "Caught In The Act" earned them the
Bronze Prize at the Tokyo Music Festival and the single "Slippery When Wet" hit #19 on the U.S. charts. The single
"Sweet Love" written and sung by Lionel Richie is their first top ten hit at #5 from their third album "Moving On". After
their own successful tour they were asked by the Rolling Stones to open for them on a world-wide tour. Amazingly, the
Commodores continued to finish their studies by studying on the road and returning to take mid-terms and final
exams.
For the rest of the decade the Commodores churned out the hits including: "Just To Be Close To You" (U.S. #7),
"Easy" (U.S. #4), "Brickhouse" (U.S. #5), "Three Times a Lady" (U.S. #1), "Sail On" (U.S. #4), and "Still" (U.S. #1).
They performed to many sold-out worldwide audiences becoming the most successful Motown group ever. In 1977
they released a live double album "Commodores Live!" which hits U.S. #3. They also dabble in the movies in 1977
appearing with Donna Summer in the disco movie, "Thank God It's Friday".
In the eighties Lionel Richie began writing for musical acts besides the Commodores. He penned the ballad "Lady" for
Kenny Rodgers which went to #1. He tried the solo waters by writing and recording the duet "Endless Love" with Diana
Ross, written for the movie starring Brooke Shields. This single hits #1 and stayed there for nine weeks. In July of
1981, he recorded his last album with the Commodores, "In The Pocket" writing his last penned and performed
Commodores single "Oh No" (U.S. #4).
Richie wrote and recorded his first album "Lionel Richie". He is still theoretically a member of the Commodores when
their manager Benny Ashburn died at the age of 54 in August 1982. The following month, Lionel Richie's first solo
single, "Truly" is released, marking the end of his association with the Commodores. The single toped the U.S. charts
for the first two weeks in November and is certified gold on December 9th. "Truly" is followed by two more hits from the
album, "You Are" (U.S. #4) and "My Love" (U.S. #5). September 1983, Richie embarked on a 48 date world solo tour
supported by the Pointer Sisters and a backing band that includes Prince's percussionist Sheila E.
Lionel Richie "Can't Slow Down"! His single "All Night Long," from this second album, hit #1 on the U.S. charts
November 12th, 1983. It stayed on the charts for five months, outselling "Endless Love" to become Motown's biggest
selling worldwide single to date. The parent album will stay on the charts for three years selling over eight million
copies and producing three more top singles "Hello," "Stuck On You," and "Penny Lover."
Riding the on top of his wave of success in 1985, Lionel Richie is asked by Quincy Jones to co-write a song with
Michael Jackson to help raise money for famine relief in Africa. After Michael and Lionel prepared for three days, the
song "We Are The World" took only two hours to write. It became a worldwide number 1 single. Lionel Richie, Diana
Ross, and Stevie Wonder are among the Motown artists who are featured in the recording. This year he collected a
number of awards at the 12th annual music awards: Favorite Male Artist Pop/Rock; Favorite Male Artist Soul/R&B;
Favorite Male Video Artist Pop/Rock; Favorite Male Video Artist Soul/R&B; Favorite Video Single Pop/Rock; Favorite
Video Single Soul/R&B. He also made a presence at the Grammy Awards winning Album of the Year for "Can't Slow
Down" and tying for Producer of the Year.
The song "Say You, Say Me" the theme of the movie "White Nights" starring Gregory Hines and Mikhael Baryshnikov
hits number 1 on December 21st. With this hit Lionel becomes the only songwriter in history to write nine #1 songs in
nine consecutive years. "Say You, Say Me" also won Richie an Oscar for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards
in 1986.
Lionel's third album "Dancing on the Ceiling", released in 1986, sold over four-million albums by May 1987 and
produced several hits including: "Dancing on the Ceiling" (U.S. #1), "Love Will Conquer All" (U.S. #9), "Ballerina Girl"
(U.S. #7), and "Sela" (U.S. #20). The following three years were trying for Richie. His personal life takes a tragic turn.
Richie separated from his wife of 17 years, his father passed away, and he developed polyps on his vocal cords. After
two operations, his left vocal cord hemmorages in October of 1991.
In 1992, Richie embarked on his first tour in five years, a five-date mini tour to promote his final Motown album, "Back
To Front". This album is a greatest hits compilation with three new hits; "Do It To Me" (U.S. #21), "My Destiny" (U.S.
#7) and "Love, Oh Love" (U.K. #52).
While Lionel Richie was enjoying his solo success, the Commodores missed his winning presence. In November of
1983, they recruited J.D. Nicolas the ex-Heatwave UK Singer to take Richie's place. This worked, and the
Commodores have a brief comeback with their album "Nightshift." The single reached the #3 spot on the U.S. chart
and was named the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards.
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