Lionel Brockman Richie Jr was born in Alabama in 1949, he began his solo career shortly after college, preferring to pursue the musical arts rather than his degree at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. In 1968, he became a member of the band Commodores as vocalist and saxophonist and were born themes such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", "Still" and "Sail On". In 1982, Lionel Richie released his first solo album, which included songs such as "You Are" and "My Love".