The Lionel Richie Playlist
Get to know the man through his music!
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The Lionel Richie Playlist - For nearly five decades, Lionel Richie has made women swoon and helped men get their groove back. And, ahead of Mr. Richie accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award on June 29, BET.com handpicks the must-hear songs by the megastar! Flip through and get acquainted with the Lionel Richie Playlist. (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
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"Three Times a Lady" - After joining The Commodores against his parents' wishes in 1968, Lionel Richie went on to write several hits for the group, including "Three Times a Lady," which was the only Motown song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the time. (Photo: Mike Prior/Redferns)
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"Jesus Is Love" - The Commodores were not known to do gospel, but this track had a greater influence than what showed from it's peak at No. 37 on the Billboard charts. Yet again, Lionel Richie stretched his writing chops and penned a prayerful song that had crossover appeal.(Photo: Motown Records)
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"Hello" - From Richie's album Can't Slow Down, "Hello" was one of his many hits that went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, landing a spot on three charts at one time (the Pop, R&B and Contemporary Adult charts). The album itself had the distinction of having every single released hit reach No. 1 on the charts in 1984. (Photo: Motown Records)
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"Endless Love" - As the 1980s approached, Richie began solidifying his name as a great songwriter. This duet with the legendary Diana Ross further proved his hit-making/songwriting abilities, penning words like, "Two hearts that beat as one, our lives have been as one." (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)
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"Truly" - Released as Richie's first solo single, "Truly" (from his self-titled debut album), topped the Billboard charts for almost two weeks. Richie also won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1982 for this track as well. (Photo: Motown Records)
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"Say You (Say Me)" - This track became Richie's ninth hit to reach No. 1. He also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1985 for the song. (Photo: Barry King/WireImage)
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"We Are the World" - Produced by Quincy Jones and co-penned with the late Michael Jackson, Richie used his hit writing skills to scribe a song for a great cause, the United Support of Artists for Africa foundation, where proceeds went to help alleviate the 1983-1985 famine in Africa. The song went on to sell a reported 8,000,000 copies in the U.S.(Photo: Columbia Records)
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"All Night Long (All Night)" - 1983's "All Night Long (All Night)" brought soul and caribbean influences to the music scene. Taken from his second album, Can't Slow Down, Richie also performed the dance anthem at the 1984 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.(Photo: Motown Records)
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"Easy" - Showcasing Richie's versatility, "Easy" meshed a traditional R&B ballad style with a country backdrop. In 1977, the track reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.(Photo: Motown Records)
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"I Call It Love" - Making a comeback in 2006 with the album Coming Home, Richie released "I Call It Love," which reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, in 2006.(Photo: Island Records)