Today we've learned to celebrate mediocrity. Back in the day we had creative artists; today we have created artists. Lionel Richie More Quotes by Lionel Richie More Quotes From Lionel Richie So much of my career has been about saying things the way people say them, using melodies not that I can sing but that the people can sing. Lionel Richie careers people way When will we ever learn, there's nowhere else we can turn. Lionel Richie nowhere-to-turn turns education People have allowed me into their homes, through my words and my music. Lionel Richie home people Believe me, I love commerce as much as the rest of the readers of 'Businessweek.' But in art, you have to be true to yourself and your musical vision. People have known me well for a long time, so if I was chasing a trend and doing something that wasn't authentic to who I am, they would know it in just a few seconds. Lionel Richie who-i-am believe art I just had to find all my friends that used to be in the business. As I say, the music business didn't die, it just moved to Nashville. Lionel Richie music-business nashville used It's quite interesting that in my growing up I had several influences. We had gospel music on campus. R&B music was, of course, the community, and radio was country music. So I can kind of see where all the influences came from. Lionel Richie growing-up country interesting Your kids can say some cruel things to you at times. For example, Nicole, Miles and Sofie are standing there in the room and I'm dressed to kill in my own mind. They'll say to me, 'Dad, you're not going out there looking like that are you?' If that doesn't kill a star, I don't know what does! Lionel Richie dad stars kids The best compliment that has ever been given to me was, I was at the airport one day and a guy came in and said, 'Lionel, my wife loves you, the kids love you, my mother-in-law loves you, the family loves you. Lionel Richie mother love-you kids Traveling did a great deal to me. I found that when I travel and just sit in the corner and watch, a million ideas come to me. Lionel Richie watches travel ideas I grew up with the Grand Ole Opry, Dottie West, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens... not realizing it was influencing me as much as it was. Lionel Richie bucks influence west I don't think I'm going to be priest material. Lionel Richie materials priests thinking Lionel Richie, love song, OK, thank you very much, good-bye. And all of a sudden I realized that, in my career, what has made my career has always been the surprises. Lionel Richie careers song thank-you Growing up with country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer. Lionel Richie grandmother growing-up country My earliest memories of country music are the Grand Ole Opry. Lionel Richie memories country I am a country boy and proud of it. Lionel Richie country-boy boys country Just when I think it couldn't get any bigger, 'Tuskegee' reaches a new level of success. Lionel Richie bigger levels thinking I'm a songwriter, and people will tell you the greatest stories about their lives, whether you want to hear it or not. Lionel Richie stories want people By growing up in Alabama, I had a melting pot of the whole pie: R&B, gospel, country. Lionel Richie pie growing-up country Country is bringing in a little rock element... a little '80s element. Melody is king now. But its just in the music, its not so much in the songwriting, which is still very basic to the storytelling aspect of it. Lionel Richie rocks kings country Taking time to sit back and watch and think about what you've seen is important. Traveling did a great deal to me. I found that when I travel and just sit in the corner and watch, a million ideas come to me. Lionel Richie me you time travel
