Lionel Richie Biography

For nine years running, between 1978 and 1986, nine different Lionel Richie compositions occupied the number one chart position, spending a total of 34 weeks in the top spot.

Richie sang a 20 minute version of ‘All Night Long’ at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

In recent years, Richie has inexplicably become something of a phenomenon in the Middle East. He enjoys huge popularity in Dubai, Qatar and Libya where he has performed, and was told that the Iraqis were playing recordings of ‘All Night Long’ on the night of the American invasion in 2003. Richie is against the war in Iraq.

Around 1978, Ruth Charles, Ray Charles’ wife, begged Ray to let Richie produce his new record. Although Richie was eager, Ray didn’t know or care who Richie was.

Richie has been married twice and has three children. He became a grandfather in 2008 when Nicole gave birth to a baby girl.