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Superstar performer LIONEL RICHIE coming to Covelli Centre
By John Benson
When you’re a superstar performer like Lionel Richie, doing press before a concert isn’t needed. However, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) was able to get the 100-million-album selling performer to agree to a special radio interview. “SiriusXM Town Hall with Lionel Richie” aired earlier this summer.
Before we delve into the fascinating conversation, here’s Richie’s resume, which began in the ’70s with The Commodores. The group’s first single, “Machine Gun,” reached No. 7 on the 1974 R&B charts, laying the foundation for future No. 1 hits such as “Brick House,” “Just To Be Close To You” and “Too Hot Ta Trot.”
By the early ’80s, Richie decided to test the solo waters. He ended up scoring 13 top-10 hits between 1981 and 1987 including “Endless Love,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Hello” and “Say You (Say Me).” Furthermore, he co-wrote “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson.
Such success explains why Richie is a five-time Grammy Award winner, 16-time American Music Award winner and five-time People’s Choice Award winner. He also won a Golden Globe and Academy Award.
Considering his accolades, Grohl was naturally humbled. He said to Richie, “Your music was the soundtrack to my life.” In talking about the singer’s early passions, it turns out Richie was thinking about pursuing tennis until Arthur Ashe talked him instead into sticking with music.
If there’s a common denominator regarding Richie’s music, it’s his penchant for creating love-shaped tunes. When an audience member asked him what music put him in the mood (wink-wink), he said when he chills it’s usually to classical guitar.
Regarding his classic song “Hello,” Richie disclosed the monster hit began actually as a joke. Apparently his producer walked into his house while he was playing the piano. Richie joked, “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” That’s when the producer said, “Finish that song.”
What’s amazing about Richie is how he’s transcended not only generations but genres. For example, in 2012 he returned to his Alabama roots with new album “Tuskegee,” which found him rerecording some of his biggest hits with country music superstars Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker and Little Big Town.
The album was so well received, Richie recorded a TV special featuring live performances with guests. The show attracted more than 8 million viewers.
“I realized that my songs perfectly translated to the country genre,” said Richie in his press materials. “I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. I am a country boy and proud of it. To do this project just felt natural.”
That’s when Richie started his global tour “All The Hits, All Night Long,” which is still going strong with a date Saturday at the Covelli Centre. Richie also has taken the popular show to Las Vegas.
Finally, when asked why he enjoys his Sin City residency, Richie didn’t mince words. He said, “It’s easy here.” That’s right, easy like Sunday morning.