Trivia

Richie's grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her eighties, but survived and went on to live to 103.

He is the adoptive father of Nicole Richie, with his then-wife, Brenda Harvey-Richie.

Michael Jackson was the godfather of his daughter Nicole Richie.

With Michael Jackson, co-wrote the song "We Are the World" and was one of its performers.

He seriously considered becoming an Episcopalian Priest before turning to music.

On Who Do You Think You Are? (2010), Richiel was able to trace one of his ancestors to a father and son, Morgan W. and Dr. Morgan Brown, one of whom impregnated Lionel's slave ancestor. The Browns descend through a wife of another Morgan Brown to Zacharie Clothier and his wife who immigrated to Canada from France. Other descendants of Zacharie Cloutier include Madonna, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

He was one of the original members of The Commodores and left the group in 1982.

He attended and graduated from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Phil Collins was inspired to call the demo of his 1990 single "Do You Remember?" "Lionel" because it reminded him of Richie's music.

Good friends with Michael Jackson, Diane Ross, and Quincy Jones.

He counts Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as major musical inspirations.

He was inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Music & Arts.

His album "Tuskegee" (2012) is named after the Alabama city where he was born and raised.

Both his paternal and maternal grandmothers lived to the ripe old ages of 98 and 103 respectively.

He has two children with his second wife Diana Alexander Richie: Myles Brockman Richie (born May 27, 1994) and Sofia Richie (born August 26, 1998).

He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

He was inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994.

He performed at benefit dinner for Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS in front of former President Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on June 12, 2002.

He attended and graduated from Joliet Central High School in Joliet, Illinois.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 20, 2003.

Has a degree in economics.

He is longtime friends with radio personality Tom Joyner.

2017 Kennedy Center Honors honoree. Other honored that year were Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J, Carmen De Lavallade, and Norman Lear.

Richie's popularity extends from Iran to Libya where he has performed for Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and in the Gulf states where Saudi royals frequently invite him to perform at private parties. Even though the Sunnis and the Shi'ites rarely agree on anything, many are getting married and partying to his songs.

The memorable sinewy guitar solo on Richie's 1977 song "Easy" was played by Thomas McClary, then a member of The Commodores.

He appeared on Canadian Idol (2003) on August 11, 2004. His music was one of the weekly themes of the show, and seven young finalists worked with him individually to prepare for singing his songs in competition.

Baseball player Leonys Martín was named after Richie, his mother's favorite musical artist.

Brother of Deborah Richie.

Grandfather of Harlow Winter Kate Madden, and Sparrow James Midnight Madden.

He has performed with the SAS (Spike Edney's All Stars) Band.

Son of Lionel Brockman Richie Sr, and Alberta R. Foster.

Grandson of Adelaide Mary Brown.