Home · Songs · Lionel Richie · The Only One
From album
Can’t Slow Down
Lionel Richie · 1983 · Track 6
Details
TonalidadB
Compás4/4
Tempo128 BPM
Duración4:24
ÁlbumCan’t Slow Down
Año1983
ISRCUSMO10110147
If you like this, try
The story behind
The song The Only One, with its 4:25 duration, fits into the trajectory of Lionel Richie, an artist whose musical formation took place in the vibrant world of R&B. After graduating from high school, his path led him back to Alabama, where a tennis scholarship at Tuskegee Institute allowed him to continue his development. It was in this environment that he began to forge his sound, a style that would later define a generation.
His professional career began in 1968, when he joined the band The Commodores as lead vocalist and saxophonist. After signing with Atlantic Records and then with Motown Records, the group consolidated itself as one of the references of soul music in the United States during the seventies. Richie stood out as the author and voice behind many of their hits, compositions that often explored the realm of romantic ballads, such as Three Times A Lady or Still. His prominence within the group grew, not only due to his distinctive vocal tone but also his ability to capture feelings in lyrics. This skill led him to compose for other artists, achieving a great impact with the song Lady for Kenny Rogers, which reached the top of the charts in 1980. The following year, Richie produced Kenny Rogers' album Share Your Love and, at a key moment in his career, recorded a duet with Diana Ross for the theme song of the film Endless Love. This duet resonated strongly on the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, marking a turning point that would drive his decision to leave The Commodores in 1982.
0:00