Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. Beginning in 1966, he was a member of the funk and soul band the Commodores and then launched a solo career in 1982. He also co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson, which sold over 20 million copies. Richie has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the world\'s best-selling artists of all time. He is also a five-time Grammy Award winner. In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame\'s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.\n', '

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, the son of Lionel Brockman Richie Sr. and Alberta R. Foster He grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute.\n', '

Richie graduated from Joliet Township High School, East Campus. A star tennis player in Joliet, he accepted a tennis scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institute, and dropped out of Tuskegee Institute after his sophomore year. Richie seriously considered studying divinity to become a priest in the Episcopal Church, but ultimately decided he was not "priest material" and decided to continue his musical career. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honor fraternity for band members, and an active life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.\n', '

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