Lionel Richie (Lionel Richie, the full name of Lionel Brockman Richie Jr., B. June 20, 1949) - American pop singer, who along with Michael Jackson and Prince reigned on Olympus the world of pop music in the first half of the 1980s.
All thirteen singles, released them in the 1981-1987 years., Hit the top ten on Billboard Hot 100, five of them - in the first place.

The road to glory

Hailing from a small town in Alabama, Richie became famous as a vocalist and saxophonist vocal trio The Commodores, for whom he wrote a bunch of perfect ballad in the style of «quiet storm» like «Three Times a Lady» (1977) and «Still» (1979 .)
By the end of the 1970s, The Commodores were the most profitable project of legendary rhythm and blues label, Motown, although with each new recording of Richie depart from classic soul to a more commercially oriented pop music.

In 1980, Lionel wrote and produced the «Lady» - the biggest hit in the career of country singer Kenny Rogers, for many weeks, leaders in the Billboard Hot 100.
The following year he released «Endless Love» - a duet with music legend Diana Ross.
The theme of the melodrama "Endless Love" became the most successful single in the history of the label and one of the highest-grossing in the history of pop music of the 1980s.
After the record held on the top of U.S. charts for nine weeks, Richie decided to leave The Commodores for a solo career, which was done in 1982 when he released his album «Lionel Richie».

From 1982 to 1986

Year after year, Richie led the U.S. charts with a string of soulful ballads, such as «Truly» (1982) and «Hello» (1983).
For nine years, there was not one year, on top of that drawn up by the magazine Billboard singles charts are not noted by a song written by Ritchie for himself or other artists.
The highlight of his career was the release of the album «Can't Slow Down» (1984), awarded "Grammy" in the most honorable nomination - for best album of the year.
That same year, Richie had the honor of closing his speech Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In 1985, Ritchie took part in the work on the soundtrack for the film "White Nights".
Sounded the song in the movie «Say You Say Me» was one of his biggest hits and has collected a rich harvest of awards, including the "Oscar" for best song for the film.
In the same year he and Michael Jackson wrote the title song of charity project «We Are the World», which was recognized as the best-selling single of the year.

Falling popularity

In spite of that we had in his repertoire fiery dance hit «All Night Long» (accompanied by a colorful music video) for Richie has earned the reputation of "black Barry Manilow ', performing on the brink of sentimental ballads sweetness.
By 1987, when the released their third album, artist, with music critics (and part of the public) developed an allergy to such products.
In fashion were stadium rock and techno, piano crowded out of the charts of electric guitars and synthesizers.
Richie has decided to wait out this period and announced a break in his creative activity.

Pause too long, and only in 1996 on the shelves of music stores received new album «Louder Than Words».
To the surprise of many, the disc was recorded with a view of fashion trends in the style of "New Jack Swing."
Little success he had (at least in the U.S.) as the three albums that followed him.
During the absence of Richie in the world of show business came a considerable number of black stars who were not averse to work with the idol of his youth.
However, even their participation could not save the record of the veteran rhythm and blues from the commercial failure: by the end of the 1990s era of sentimental ballads in the past.

The most successful albums of the late Richie was «Coming Home», which was released in 2006.
It is a mistake, some skeptics are inclined to ascribe to its relative success is not so much an updated sound track (which unlike the previous works Richie dramatically), but the appearance in the video clips glamorous daughter of a singer - Nicole Richie.