Lionel Richie

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer

Category: Performer

Inducted: 2022

Inducted by: Lenny Kravitz

Nominated: 2022

First Eligible: 2007 Ceremony


Kennedy Center Honors: 2017
Songwriters Hall of Fame: 1994

Induction Ceremony Songs:

SongPerformed By
Hello  Lionel Richie
Easy  Lionel Richie with Dave Grohl
All Night Long  Lionel Richie

Inducted into Rock Hall Projected in 2039.

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
Can't Slow Down (1983)
Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Endless Love (1981)
You Are (1982)
All Night Long (All Night) (1983)
Hello (1983)
Say You Say Me (1985)
Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)

Lionel Richie @ Wikipedia



Comments

38 comments so far (post your own)

Why not induct Lionel Richie as a solo artist, instead of The Commodores?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 09/7/2013 @ 21:37pm


Why not induct Lionel Richie as a solo artist, instead of The Commodores?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 09/7/2013 @ 21:38pm


1) Because The Commodores deserve induction as a group, and

2) LIONEL'S "SOLO" work was too "Pop" .That's why they referred to him as "The Black Barry Manilow".

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 09/8/2013 @ 01:08am


https://www.google.com/#psj=1&q=The+Black+Barry+Manilow+lionel+richie

Richie's 1982 self-titled debut contained three hit singles: the U.S. #1 song "Truly", which launched his career as one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980s, and the top five hits "You Are" and "My Love". The album hit #3 on the music charts and sold over 4 million copies. His 1983 follow-up album, Can't Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, propelling him into the first rank of international superstars. The album contained the #1 hit "All Night Long" a Caribbean-flavored dance number that was promoted by a colorful music video produced by former Monkee Michael Nesmith. In 1984, Richie performed "All Night Long" at the closing ceremony of the XXIII Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Several more Top 10 hits followed, the most successful of which was the ballad "Hello" (1984), a sentimental love song that showed how far Richie had moved from his R&B roots. Richie had three more top ten hits in 1984, "Stuck on You" (#3), "Running with the Night" (#7) and "Penny Lover" (#8). Now described by one critic as "the black Barry Manilow", in 1985 Richie wrote and performed a suitably soothing theme song, "Say You, Say Me", for the film White Nights, winning an Oscar for his efforts as well as reaching #1 on the U.S. charts and staying there for four weeks, making it the #1 song of 1985 according to Billboard's year-end Hot 100 chart. He also collaborated with Michael Jackson on the charity single "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, another #1 hit.

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 09/8/2013 @ 01:14am


Saw Lionel at Bonnaroo. One of top 4 sets I saw that weekend. Hit after hit after hit. Voice has not changed a bit. One of those sets where he plays a song & you are like 'Oh, he wrote that one too!'.

From now one, I will be voting in Rock Hall Projected for Mr. Ritchie solo or with Commodores (whichever the consensus is).

He also has a great sense of humor, real funny little comments during set.

Posted by Paul in KY on Thursday, 06/19/2014 @ 07:57am


Criminally underrated. Take a look at the songs that the Commodores and his solo career produced, it's impressive. Sure, there is some cheese in there (Dancing on the Ceiling, etc.), but Paul McCartney put out plenty of cheese as well and people respect his solo work.

Posted by Classic Rock on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 22:43pm


If LIONEL RICHIE gets inducted as a solo artist, The COMMODORES as a GROUP will get kicked to the CURB.
"TOTALLY UNFAIR"
It will be the SMOKEY/MIRACLES and DION/BELMONTS fiasco ALL OVER AGAIN.

If the RRHOF ship sails only ONCE, I'd rather see ALL of the COMMODORES get in...not just RICHIE.

With the extreme LACK of R&B artists having gotten inducted in the last 11 years, the chance of a double induction for an R&B act is almost NIL.
PUT ALL OF THE COMMODORES IN.

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 01/18/2015 @ 00:43am


Lionel Richie should be inducted Rock Hall of Fame by 2020. He has a type of voice that really transcends time and popular music. Can see no argument against Mr. Richie since he writes good music and has many hits to his credit. A talented singer and musician. It seems he would be type of artist RRHOF would induct. Stuck On You probably my FAV Lionel Richie song. KING

Posted by KING on Thursday, 04/9/2015 @ 01:03am


NO...just NO .

Posted by bill g on Sunday, 05/17/2015 @ 02:46am


LIONEL RICHIE gets inducted as a solo artist, The COMMODORES as a GROUP will get kicked to the CURB.
"TOTALLY UNFAIR"
It will be the SMOKEY/MIRACLES and DION/BELMONTS fiasco ALL OVER AGAIN.
Without THE COMMODORES there wouldn't have ever even BEEN a "Lionel Richie".

If the RRHOF ship sails only ONCE, I'd rather see ALL of the COMMODORES get in...not just RICHIE.

With the extreme LACK of R&B artists having gotten inducted in the last 11 years, the chance of a double induction for an R&B act is almost NIL.
PUT ALL OF THE COMMODORES IN.

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 10/28/2015 @ 12:55pm


I'm on board with Richie getting in twice for both efforts, but I really wish you wouldn't compare it to both Smokey Robinson vs. the Miracles AND Dion vs. Dion And The Belmonts. The Belmonts with Dion were relatively short lived, whereas Dion's solo career was much longer, much more successful, and arguably broke more ground. Additionally, unlike Smokey, Dion was clearly and fully eligible for solo induction when he received it. I'd like to see Dion And The Belmonts get in as a group as well, but it was not a huge oversight to induct Dion solo when they did--it's only a huge oversight to keep Dion And The Belmonts out as well.

Hopefully we could get both Lionel solo and the Commodores, but I share your pessimism that we'll never get either.

Posted by Philip on Wednesday, 10/28/2015 @ 16:23pm


If LIONEL RICHIE gets inducted as a solo artist, The COMMODORES as a GROUP will get kicked to the CURB.
"TOTALLY UNFAIR"
It will be the SMOKEY/MIRACLES and DION/BELMONTS fiasco ALL OVER AGAIN.

If the RRHOF ship sails only ONCE, I'd rather see ALL of the COMMODORES get in...not just RICHIE.

With the extreme LACK of R&B artists having gotten inducted in the last 11 years, the chance of a double induction for an R&B act is almost NIL.
PUT ALL OF THE COMMODORES IN.

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 10/25/2016 @ 12:18pm


Lionel Richie ? *** NO !!! ***

THE COMMODORES ?? *** YES !!***

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 08/12/2018 @ 18:21pm


Bill G I have to disagree 100% without Lionel Richie the Commodores don't have anything.

Lionel Richie made the Commodores a name. They had 1 hit song after Mr Richie left and that was Night Shift and most more than likely assumed it was Lionel's song and he had just left.

Check the catalog and who wrote those songs Lionel is the one the deserves to be inducted first as he is the man behind the hits. He rose they sunk. That's the truth

Posted by Mike on Saturday, 02/13/2021 @ 02:49am


Why are rappers getting inducted before Kool & the Gang and the Commodores? It's not racism, what is it?

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 02/13/2021 @ 04:30am


Lionel Richie's Ridiculous Omission From The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDBYy51HI0

Posted by Roy on Monday, 11/1/2021 @ 22:39pm


Why is Lionel Richie being nominated before The Commodores?

ARTISTS WHO WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AS SOLO PERFORMERS BEFORE BEING INDUCTED WITH THE BANDS OR GROUPS WHO SPAWNED THEM

01. Clyde McPhatter inducted in 1987; The Drifters inducted in 1988
02. Rod Stewart inducted in 1994; The Small Faces/Faces inducted in 2012
03. Neil Young inducted in 1995; Buffalo Springfield inducted in 1997

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 02/2/2022 @ 08:30am


There were six other people in the Commodores. They should all be inducted as the Commodores, and Lionel Richie should get a second induction. It wasn't Lionel Richie who sang lead on Brick House or Night Shift. Another win for the fckng Meters! Lionel Richie gets nominated, but not the Commodores! Lionel Richie before Phil Collins? I seriously think the Rock Hall committee has a problem with black groups from the 50s-60s-70s that they don't know personally and are not friends with. If you're black from the 50s-60s-70s these days, you have to be a solo artist to be inducted. If not, then they'll nominate 80s-90s rappers instead, solo or group!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 02/3/2022 @ 03:51am


Here's another example of how the Hall uses sneaky methods to limit demographic changes in the voting body should a candidate make it in. Richie was a successful solo artist but largely veered towards mainstream pop on his own, yet during the 1970's he was a member of The Commodores who were a full-fledged rock group. If Richie gets in alone it will negate any chance the group has since he was their biggest star, and as a result only one black artist will get a vote rather than five. Put the Commodores in and THEN consider Richie's solo work and you remove the charges of voter suppression.

-Sampson of Digital Dream Door

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 02/3/2022 @ 15:11pm


Alan Light on Lionel Richie's solo nomination:

"It's been kicked around before, [Lionel or Commordores]...I just feel the icon of Lionel outstripped the Commodores. A beloved name...and he jumped ahead of them."

Thinks Lionel solo would fare better with voters.

https://twitter.com/NickDBambach/status/1488879765234720768?

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 02/3/2022 @ 17:09pm


Endless Love * My Love * Truly * You Are * All Night Long * Running With The Night * Hello * Stuck On You * Penny Lover * Say You, Say Me * Dancing On The Ceiling * Love Will Conquer All * Ballerina Girl * Se La * Do It To Me * My Destiny * Don't Wanna Lose You * Ordinary Girl * Angel * Just For You * I Call It Love

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 02/3/2022 @ 20:45pm


I think the Rock Hall is going to go back and forth between Lionel Richie and The Commodores, like they did with Rufus and Chaka Khan, if he's not inducted in 2022.

Sting was nominated in 2015 and lost. Will Lionel Richie have the same fate?

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 02/5/2022 @ 07:38am


Lionel Richie has contributed a lot to soul, funk and soft rock. Although he wouldn't be one of my top choices for the hall, I do hope he gets in amongst the 2022 nominees.

Posted by StunningStocktaker on Saturday, 02/5/2022 @ 12:08pm


I'm thinking Diana Ross will perform Endless Love with Lionel Richie at the 2022 induction ceremony, and she'll be nominated for a second induction in 2023.

Posted by Roy on Sunday, 02/6/2022 @ 18:32pm



https://youtu.be/zW8PxmHkcYI

Please start the process for the commodores to be inducted. Click on the link

Posted by Stuart Gray on Sunday, 02/13/2022 @ 10:05am


SINGLES

Commodores

Machine Gun * The Zoo (The Human Zoo) * I Feel Sanctified * Slippery When Wet * This Is Your Life * Sweet Love * Just To Be Close To You * Fancy Dancer * Easy * Brick House * Too Hot Ta Trot * Zoom * Three Times A Lady * Flying High * Sail On * Still * Wonderland * Old-Fashioned Love * Heroes * Jesus Is Love * Lady (You Bring Me Up) * Oh No * Why You Wanna Try Me * Lucy * Painted Picture * Reach High * Only You * Turn Off The Lights * Nightshift * Animal Instinct * Janet * Goin' To The Bank * Take It From Me * United In Love * Solitaire * Homeless * Grrip * Everything Reminds Me Of You

Lionel Richie

Endless Love * My Love * Truly * You Are * All Night Long * Running With The Night * Hello * Stuck On You * Penny Lover * Say You, Say Me * Dancing On The Ceiling * Love Will Conquer All * Ballerina Girl * Se La * Do It To Me * My Destiny * Don't Wanna Lose You * Ordinary Girl * Angel * Just For You * I Call It Love

Posted by Roy on Friday, 02/25/2022 @ 12:53pm


Rolling Stone's List of the 25 Undisputed Guilty Pleasure Bands

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/rolling-stones-list-of-the-25-undisputed-guilty-pleasure-bands-20070409

Lionel Richie is the 8th act from Rolling Stone's 2008 List of the 25 Undisputed Guilty Pleasure Bands to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The first was ABBA, the second was Rush, the third was Daryl Hall and John Oates, the fourth was Chicago, the fifth was Journey, the sixth was Electric Light Orchestra, the seventh was Bon Jovi.

Some of us still have a thing for Rush or Paula Abdul or RuPaul. That's cool. To each his or her own and all that. But there are some artists who unequivocally leave much to be desired in terms of, say, quality or coolness, but still manage to rock, or at least inspire serious if shameful adoration on a mass scale. It's these artists that we're interested in. Artists who absolutely belong on a best guilty pleasures ever list, because that's what we're creating.

Those of you who proudly listen to Rush at top volume in your car all summer long, (ie thereby displaying the total lack of guilty in your pleasure), take note:? Rush come in at Number One on our official list of the Rock's Undisputed Guilty Pleasure Bands. Like the rest of the acts on our list (which you helped put together), we love them to death, and can never forgive ourselves. The full list:

1. Rush
2. Electric Light Orchestra
3. Journey
4. ABBA
5. Chicago
6. Boston
7. Foreigner
8. Bread
9. Bon Jovi
10. New Edition
11. The Monkees
12. Motley Crue
13. STYX
14. Eddie Money
15. Simply Red
16. Kelly Clarkson
17. America
18. Wham!
19. R.E.O. Speedwagon
20. Poison
21. Lionel Richie
22. Kansas
23. Air Supply
24. Hall & Oates
25. Britney Spears

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 05/4/2022 @ 09:00am


ARTISTS WHO WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AS SOLO PERFORMERS BEFORE BEING INDUCTED WITH THE BANDS OR GROUPS WHO SPAWNED THEM

01. Clyde McPhatter inducted in 1987; The Drifters inducted in 1988
02. Rod Stewart inducted in 1994; The Small Faces/Faces inducted in 2012
03. Neil Young inducted in 1995; Buffalo Springfield inducted in 1997
04. Lionel Richie inducted in 2022; The Commodores inducted in 20??

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 05/4/2022 @ 11:12am


Lionel Richie better make damn sure the Commodores get on the ballot next year!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 05/5/2022 @ 04:22am


Lionel Richie on twitter https://twitter.com/LionelRichie/with_replies

Tell Lionel Richie that he has to make the Rock Hall nominate the Commodores!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 05/5/2022 @ 13:20pm


Mick Jagger will perform You're So Vain with Carly Simon.

Diana Ross will perform Endless Love with Lionel Richie.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 05/5/2022 @ 15:06pm


Lionel Richie better mention the Commodores during his induction speech, and he better not perform any Commodores songs!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 05/5/2022 @ 18:53pm


Here's another example of how the Hall uses sneaky methods to limit demographic changes in the voting body should a candidate make it in. Richie was a successful solo artist but largely veered towards mainstream pop on his own, yet during the 1970's he was a member of The Commodores who were a full-fledged rock group. If Richie gets in alone it will negate any chance the group has since he was their biggest star, and as a result only one black artist will get a vote rather than five. Put the Commodores in and THEN consider Richie's solo work and you remove the charges of voter suppression.

-Sampson of Digital Dream Door on Lionel Richie's nomination

Though versatility is an admirable trait for any artist, it's telling that the music Richie made with The Commodores in the 1970's was far more consistently focused on rock before he left to pursue middle of the road pop with a few credible dance-rock hits thrown in. By inducting Richie alone they get to credit his entire career while ensuring The Commodores won't ever be considered and risk throwing off their carefully cultivated imbalanced voting body with too many black inductees.

-Sampson of Digital Dream Door on Lionel Richie's induction

Posted by Roy on Friday, 05/6/2022 @ 05:01am


Lionel Richie can vote for himself now.

Posted by Roy on Friday, 05/6/2022 @ 15:50pm


So this just happened two weeks ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsTKEQzLkmw

INDUCT THE COMMODORES!

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 11/1/2022 @ 08:05am


Bevy Smith tells Lionel Richie on the Red Carpet that he could actually be one of those 2-time inductees. She calls the Commodores the iconic super-band that Lionel Richie was a part of. Lionel Richie said he is going to put his foot in the door and hold it open for the Commodores. He tells people everyday if there were no Commodores, there would be no Lionel Richie.

I'm still waiting for the full speeches by Lenny Kravitz and Lionel Richie to surface on YouTube to see if they mentioned the Commodores on stage.

Posted by Roy on Monday, 11/7/2022 @ 19:08pm


I do not think Lionel Richie solo career has rock spirit but the commodores is more related to rock scene. If I can decide, I will only induct the commodores. Lionel Richie's music is too mild, compromised and does not have rock spirit but the commodores does not have this problem.

Posted by power on Saturday, 12/2/2023 @ 10:41am


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Future Rock Legends is your home for Lionel Richie and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


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