Hello Lionel, is it me you’re looking for ???
Everyone has their soft spot. For some, it’s chocolate, for others, it’s Madonna (what???). For us, it’s Lionel. Anyone that’s a friend of Editorista will know how she and certain friends get all soppy and soft when the legendary Lionel’s voice comes on the radio, although it’s usually being played off an ipod or cd as being such fans, they have the entire collection. So she just wanted to remind you of how you MUST MUST MUST go to his concert when Lionel graces our shores in November… SCREAM…… Do it to me one more time!
BIG Concerts are thrilled to announce that one of the most prolific hitmakers, Lionel Richie will tour South Africa in November this year. The highly anticipated tour, presented by 94.7 Highveld Stereo, will play ABSA Stadium in Durban on the 25th of November, and 28th November the Coca Cola Dome, Johannesburg. Lionel Richie has set aside the 22nd November 2008 to perform in Cape Town, the details of which will be released in due course.
“Lionel Richie is a popular music artist featured on 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s playlist. His song, ‘I Call It Love’ has proved particularly popular among our listeners, as have a number of other hits he has produced over the years,” said 94.7 Station Manager Ravi Naidoo. “The fact that he’s coming to South Africa to perform is truly amazing and we’re honoured to be a partner to this tour.”
“Simplicity,” Lionel Richie explains, “is the key to what I do.”
These are surprising, even shocking, words from an artist whose achievements, creatively and commercially… have been anything but simple. Lionel Richie is, after all, one of the world’s most recognized and rewarded performers. He’s sold nearly 100 million albums and is the biggest selling RnB artists in South Africa with over 1 million records sold, notching up twenty-two Top 10 singles, including legendary hits such All Night Long, Dancin’ on the Ceiling, Hello and the Commodores’ Brickhouse, Easy, and Zoom. Among the many awards that grace his shelves, the collection includes five Grammy Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and not to mention piles of American Music and People’s Choice awards.
“I want to find the simplest phrase that everybody says, no matter what language you speak.”
Richie’s perspective is a product of nearly four decades of making music, since he co-founded the Commodores in 1967 at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Signed in 1971 to Motown, The Commodores became one of America’s most popular bands by the mid-’70s.
Richie began stepping outside the Commodores after producing Kenny Roger’s album “Share Your Love” in 1981, which spawned the hit “Lady”. “Endless Love,” his 1981 chart-topping duet with Diana Ross was Motown’s most successful single and further fueled Richie’s solo ambitions.
After leaving the Commodores, Richie became one of the most successful male solo artists of the ’80s. Going it alone proved to be the correct decision. Following the release of his 1982 eponymous debut, the first single, “Truly,” went straight to No. 1 and the subsequent single, “You Are,” raced quickly into the Top 10. His next album, Can’t Slow Down, soared even higher. Sitting at No. 1 for an astounding two months, the record featured the two gold singles, “Hello” and “All Night Long,” as well as three other Top 10 cuts.
A great humanitarian, with a heart for Africa, Richie performed and co-wrote (with Michael Jackson) the USA For Africa benefit single “We Are The World,” which went No. 1 in 1985 and raised millions for famine relief. Later that year he was No. 1 again with “Say You, Say Me,” a song also earning Richie his first Academy Award for “Best Original Song” from the film White Nights.
Following the release of 1985’s No. 1 album, Dancing On The Ceiling, Richie decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. Eventually, he would return with 1996’s gold certified Louder Than Words, 1998’s Time as well as a tour with Tina Turner and his 2001 CD, Renaissance. The year 2003 brought the release of the Encore and he performed a sold-out world tour in support of his 2004 release Just For You.
Currently, Richie is recording a new album. Along with his personal triumphs, Richie has dedicated himself to making positive contributions outside of his music. He has been an active member of the Los Angeles NARAS Chapter for over 20 years and, through his partnership with the Toys ‘R’ Us Children’s Fund, has graciously contributed his time and resources to the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY in the Schools program.
“So much of my career has been about saying things the way people say them, not using melodies that only I can sing but those that the people can sing. ‘All Night Long’ will always be ‘All Night Long.’ ‘Easy like Sunday morning’ will always be ‘Easy like Sunday morning.’ … if you look at the titles, they say the entire thought before you even go into the story.”
Lionel Richie is incredibly excited about this long overdue visit to South Africa and reflected that his latest studio album, “Coming Home”, is a metaphor for this much anticipated tour. “Africa holds a special place for me and I am anxious to come home and give something back to all the fans that have supported me and my music over the years”.
The legendary Lionel Richie…Live in South Africa, is guaranteed to have fans dancing on the ceiling. This is the one performance not to be missed!
Cape Town fans who wish to be first in line for tickets once sales open can register their details online at www.kfm.co.za. Just as soon as the announcements are made regarding specific dates and venues these will be processed on a first-come-first served basis.
Tickets are available from Computicket on 083 915 8000, www.computicket.com and outlets countrywide.
TOUR ITINERARY
Presented by 94.5 KFM
Saturday 22nd November
Venue to be confirmed, Cape Town
Presented by East Coast Radio
Tuesday 25th November
ABSA Stadium, Durban
Tickets R175 to R475 (EXCL. service charges)
Presented by 94.7 Highveld Stereo
Friday 28th November
The Coca Cola Dome, Johannesburg
Tickets R275 to R900 (EXCL. service charges)
For more information on upcoming concerts, check out: www.bigconcerts.co.za
