Question 1

True or false: Lionel Richie was a member of the Commodores before going solo.

Accepted Answer

True. He joined the Commodores in 1968, playing saxophone and singing lead on hits like 'Easy' and 'Three Times a Lady.'

Question 2

True or false: Richie wrote 'We Are the World' entirely by himself in one night.

Accepted Answer

False. He co-wrote it with Michael Jackson, and the song was recorded by a supergroup of 46 artists in 1985.

Question 3

True or false: Richie's song 'Hello' was inspired by his own secret crush on a fan.

Accepted Answer

False. The song was written about a blind girl, based on a true story of a fan who sent him letters in Braille.

Question 4

True or false: Richie's first solo album was titled 'Lionel Richie' and sold over 4 million copies.

Accepted Answer

False. His debut solo album was 'Lionel Richie' (1982), but it sold over 10 million copies worldwide, not 4 million.

Question 5

True or false: Richie's daughter Nicole is a reality TV star and was adopted by him.

Accepted Answer

False. Nicole Richie was adopted by Lionel and his first wife, Brenda, in 1983, but she is his biological niece.

Question 6

True or false: Lionel Richie once worked as a session musician for Little Richard.

Accepted Answer

True. Before fame, Richie played saxophone on Little Richard's 1970s recordings, while still a college student.

Question 7

True or false: Lionel Richie won an Oscar for Best Original Song for 'Say You, Say Me.'

Accepted Answer

True. He won the Academy Award in 1986 for 'Say You, Say Me' from the film 'White Nights,' beating out other contenders.

Question 8

True or false: Lionel Richie has a degree in economics from Tuskegee University.

Accepted Answer

True. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics in 1974 and briefly considered becoming a priest before music took off.

Lionel Richie Trivia Questions