Multi-talented Motown master and Grammy winning superstar Lionel Richie returns to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 6 at noon.
Propelled by his immensely productive songwriting skills along with his dynamic performing style, Lionel Richie has reached a series of dazzling artistic heights, setting new standards in his craft and in the industry. Between the years of 1978 to 1986, nine different Lionel Richie compositions occupied the number one chart position, spending a total of 34 weeks in the top spot, surpassing records once held by The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. Richie has won an Oscar, five Grammys, 18 American Music Awards, a Golden Globe, five People’s Choice Awards and accolades from universities, publications and entertainment organizations from around the world.
Born in 1949 in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, Richie’s start in the music business came in the early 1970s during his freshman year at Tuskegee University with The Mystics. The group later became The Commodores for whom Richie wrote some of his most enduring songs including “Still,” “Sail On,” “Easy” and the group’s first #1 hit, “Three Times a Lady,” which earned a 1979 American Music Award and a People’s Choice Award.
As a songwriter, Richie found more success with the1980 hit, “Lady,” penned for Kenny Rogers. It spent six weeks at #1 on the charts. While producing an album for Rogers and simultaneously working on a new Commodores album, Richie received a call from film director Franco Zeferelli who was looking for a theme song for his motion picture Endless Love. The duet he sang with Diana Ross spent nine weeks at #1 on the charts and went on to garner an Oscar nomination, five Grammy nominations, an American Music Award, a People’s Choice Award and became Motown Records’ all-time, best-selling single.
In 1982, Richie embarked on his solo recording career with the single, “Truly,” which became yet another multi-week #1 record. A year later, Richie scored again with Can’t Slow Down, which sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, spawned five chart-topping singles, and became the biggest selling album in the history of Motown Records. The first single, “All Night Long” became one of Richie’s most memorable hits when, at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Richie performed a marathon 20-minute version of the song before a television viewing audience estimated at 2.6 billion people, worldwide.
In 1985, another landmark was achieved when Richie co-wrote with Michael Jackson the global anthem, “We Are the World.” The recording utilized the talents of 45 top artists, won five Grammys and helped raise millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa.
“Say You, Say Me” written for the 1986 film White Nights, which starred Broadway’s Gregory Hines and ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov and “Miss Celie’s Blues” from the soundtrack of the Steven Spielberg film, The Color Purple both competed against each other for top Grammy Awards.
Richie’s most recent album is Just Go released in 2009.
Tickets cost $169, $129, $94 and $69*; all seats are available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, Tuesday – Saturday from noon – 6 p.m. and Sunday – Monday only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility, has quickly emerged as the entertainment capital of South Florida. Attracting music, comedy and sports fans, this 5,500-seat indoor arena further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For more information please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood.