Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. (born June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama) is an American R&B
singer,
songwriter,
composer, and occasional actor. He got his start as the front man for the
Commodores, a nationally popular
Motown band during the 70's. They had several hits such as
Easy,
Three Times A Lady, and probably the Commodores' most famous hit,
Brick House. Richie quit the band in 1981 for a solo career. He released his self-titled debut in 1982. The album hit No.