Singer Lionel Richie was named today the inaugural recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Recording Artists Inspiration Award, honoring his storied music career and charitable work.
“Lionel Richie is an American institution,” said JoBeth Williams, president of the foundation. “We all know his beautiful music for which he’s been greatly honored, but even more than a legendary recording artist, Lionel
is a man of tremendous compassion who’s deeply committed to helping others. We’re proud to recognize his invaluable charitable work.”
Richie will be honored during the foundation’s Patron of the Artists Awards ceremony Nov. 9 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.
The singer has sold more than 100 million records in his career and won four Grammys, including one for co-writing “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson. He won an Academy Award for “Say You, Say Me,” featured in the film “White Nights.” His hits include classics such as “Lady,” “All Night Long,” “Hello,” ‘Dancing on the Ceiling” and “Endless Love.” Richie began his career with the Motown group The Commodores.
Richie has also worked actively with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, UNICEF and The Art of Elysium. He received a lifetime achievement award from the United Negro College Fund and was presented with the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award from Harvard University.
During the awards ceremony, Richie will be recognized alongside previously announced honorees Kate Winslet, Judd Apatow, Kathryn Bigelow and Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.
