FACTS AND FIGURES LIONEL RICHIE

The story of Lionel Richie is closely intertwined with the label Motown and the music genre Soul. Richie came to Motown in 1970 after three years of touring small venues in the south of the USA with the Commodores. The Commodores hits include "Easy", "Sail On" and "Still" and they made the group the most successful Motown act of the 70s. In 1982 the Commodores broke up, but Lionel Richie had already launched an unparalleled solo career by this time. He has now sold 70 million albums and received five Grammies, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and various American Music Awards. From 1978 ("Three Times A Lady") to 1986 ("Say You, Say Me") he had a number one hit in the charts every year – a feat that no other musician has achieved. After that things quietened down for Lionel Richie on the world music scene, but the best-of album "Back To Front" brought out in 1992 showed that the public had never forgotten the charismatic singer. Although it only contained three new songs, it was at the top of the US charts for 24 weeks. And Richie achieved another comeback in 2000 with the album "Renaissance". The album and the hit "Angel" ranked high on mostly the European charts. The concert tours are sold out and his latest album "Coming Home" was launched in September 2006. Lionel Richie has sold more than 100 million albums and had 22 hits in the US Top Ten – 13 of which during that phenomenal time between 1981 and 1987.

9 consecutive # 1 hits in the USA (an unequalled US record to this day)