These days, most people know the songwriter and performer Lionel Richie from American Idol, where he is one of the three judges, along with Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, helping to decide the winner of the reality singing competition show. Richie is so much more than a judge. He came up in the 1970s with the Motown singing group the Commodores, singing tracks like “Three Times a Lady.”
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Since then, he’s also enjoyed a solo career, breaking off from his Motown group, and releasing hits like “All Night Long (All Night).” But Richie also wrote songs for other artists, from Kenny Rogers to Enrique Iglesias and more. He even co-wrote perhaps the most famous song in music history, as you’ll see below.
Here are three songs you likely didn’t know Lionel Richie wrote for other artists.
1. “We Are The World,” U.S.A. for Africa
Written by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie
Featuring the most star-studded cast, from Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen to Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Stevie Nicks, “We Are The World,” is perhaps the most well-known single of all time. The 1985 charity single was written by Richie and Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The song sold 20 million copies, making it the 8th-best-selling physical single to date, and the profits from which went to relief in Africa. The song generated $63 million at the time.
There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
2. “So in Love with You,” Kenny Rogers
Written by Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie produced the 1981 LP, Share Your Love, by Kenny Rogers. The album featured several tracks written by Richie, including “Lady” and “So in Love with You.” In total, Richie wrote four songs on the LP and this one is especially rich in adoration for Rogers’ object of affection.
Girl, I’ve seen you lonesome every morning,
By my side you?d never be alone,
Just tell me what it is your heart desire,
‘Cause all I wanna do is take you home.
‘Cause I’m so in love with you
Yes, I’m so in love with you
Yes, I’m so in love with you
I’m so in love with you.
3. “To Love a Woman,” Enrique Iglesias and Lionel Richie
Written by Lionel Richie, Enrique Iglesias, Paul Berry
Written by Richie, Iglesias, and Berry, this song has had several lives. It was released on Richie’s 2002 live album, Encore, in November of that year. But also in 2002, the song came out on the deluxe reissue of Iglesias’ 2001 studio album, Escape. So who gets official credit for being first with the track is a bit up for debate. However, what isn’t up for debate is the power of this sensual number. Iglesias moans for his object of affection and Richie adds his smooth-yet-brittle voice.
When you’re looking in her eyes you can see forever (Forever)
You’re captured by the beauty of her soul (Oh, yeah)
You know you’re never gonna find a woman like this again
So don’t let go (Don’t let go)
Photo by Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images
