Lionel Richie is a legendary singer, songwriter, and musician whose career has spanned decades. Here are 25 fascinating facts about this iconic artist. Richie was born on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute where his grandmother worked. He initially studied economics at Tuskegee University before pursuing a career in music. Richie’s songwriting prowess is evident in the fact that he wrote “Lady” for Kenny Rogers and “Endless Love” for Diana Ross, both of which became massive hits. Additionally, he co-wrote the charity single “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson, which raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa. These are just a few highlights from the remarkable career of Lionel Richie.
Lionel Richie Facts
1- Lionel Richie was born on 20 June 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama
2- Michael Jackson was the godfather of his daughter Nicole Richie
3- He has a sweet tooth. He is a big fan of oatmeal cookies and carrot cake
4- He is Good friends with Michael Jackson, Diane Ross, and Quincy Jones
5- He appeared on ‘The Simpsons’. In the 2007 episode He Loves To Fly and He D’ohs, Homer Simpson finds himself flush with cash. Eager to enjoy his fortune, he hires a private jet with entertainment provided by Richie.
6- He was Nelson Mandela’s stylist. Richie was Nelson Mandela’s stylist for the duration of his 1990 visit to the United States.
7- He loved writing ballads
8- He is a breast cancer activist and has raised $3.1m for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
9- Every morning, he drinks hot water and lemon
10- He toured with The Jackson 5
11- He attended and graduated from Joliet Central High School in Joliet, Illinois.
12- He was inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994
13- He is a fussy seafood eater. Richie completely avoids crab, octopus and mussels.
14- He is an active gardener and his favourite flower is the bougainvillea.
15- He was one of the original members of The Commodores and left the group in 1982.
16- One of his hobbies is collecting fireplaces.
17- He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide
18- His name inspired one of the world’s greatest football stars. Messi’s parents, both massive Richie fans, named the FC Barcelona star after the singer.
19- He was quite the Tennis star. He got a tennis scholarship from the Tuskegee Institute, but dropped out after his second year
20- He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honor fraternity for band members and an active life member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
21- In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award
22- He is longtime friends with radio personality Tom Joyner
23- He also co-wrote the 1985 charity single “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies
24- Lionel Richie wrote Kenny Rogers’ hit Lady while on the toilet
25- Phil Collins was inspired to call the demo of his 1990 single “Do You Remember?” “Lionel” because it reminded him of Richie’s music.
