Lionel Richie is an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose smooth voice and timeless ballads made him one of the most beloved pop and R&B figures of his era. Rising to fame in the 1970s as the frontman and principal songwriter of the Commodores, he penned and performed hits like "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady" before launching an equally successful solo career in the early 1980s with chart-topping songs such as "All Night Long," "Hello," and "Say You, Say Me."
Blending soul, funk, and pop with a knack for heartfelt balladry, Richie became a defining voice of adult contemporary music, earning numerous awards and co-writing the charity anthem "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson. His warm baritone and gift for melody have kept his songs beloved across generations, and he has remained a fixture in popular culture as a recording artist, television personality, and performer. Active since the late 1960s, he continues to be celebrated as one of the era's most enduring hitmakers.