Alberta R. Richie is mostly known for being the mother of popular musician, Lionel Richie. This article covers everything you need to know about her.
Background and Family
Born Alberta Robinson Foster in 1917, Alabama, United States. There is no information online about her upbringing. She met her husband, Lionel Brockman Richie Sr., in college and they got married in 1948. Their union produced a child; Lionel Richie. Unfortunately, she passed away on January 31, 2021.
Personal Life
Alberta R. Foster Richie was a major influence on Lionel Richie. She was an educator and school principal. She probably taught Lionel discipline and perseverance – qualities that would later fuel his musical success.
While specifics about their relationship remain secret, Lionel’s upbringing in a middle-class, religious home suggests Alberta provided a stable upbringing. Since her husband was an army systems analyst and could have relocated frequently, Alberta’s role as an educator might have provided important continuity during Lionel’s formative years.
Her Son, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie – the voice of soulful ballads and timeless classics – has more than five decades of music experience. Richie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on June 20, 1949. He was brought up musically – his father was a systems analyst and his mother a teacher who became a school principal.
At first Richie focused on academics. His tennis career was a success at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), a historically Black college, and he considered theology a career possibility. But music was just irresistible for him. While at university he formed his first band “The Deacons”, which he used to showcase his songwriting and performance skills.
Richie later co-founded a musical group, The Commodores, in 1968 which became a turning point for him. The Commodores fused soulful melodies with funk grooves. Hits including “Brick House” and “Three Times a Lady” established Richie as a singer and songwriter. His rich tenor and relatable lyrics won fans over.
But Richie had ambitions beyond the band. In 1982 he started a solo career that made him an international superstar. Collaborations with Diana Ross on “Endless Love” and Michael Jackson on “We Are the World” established him as a musical giant. Albums like Can’t Slow Down and “Lionel Richie” produced endless numbers of hits including “Hello,” “Penny Lover,” and “All Night Long (All Night),” making Richie the 80s ballad king.
Richie has a musical gift beyond his performances. He has written for Kenny Rogers (“Lady”) and Tina Turner (“Stuck with You”). His 1984 Olympics soundtrack with “Stuck on You” established him as a pop culture icon.
Richie has amassed roughly USD 200 million net worth over the years. He’s won four Grammy Awards, an Academy Award nomination for “Endless Love” and a Golden Globe for “Say You, Say Me.” He won the Gershwin Prize in 2022 from the Library of Congress, making him an American musical icon.
But despite his professional successes, Richie has had his share of personal struggles. Four times married, he has faced public scrutiny over his relationships.
Lionel Richie is 74 today. His music moves generations – it reminds us that love can never fail and that life is worth celebrating.
