Commodores

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The Commodores were a highly successful soul/funk band in the 1970s. They met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute, and signed to Motown having first caught the public eye supporting The Jackson Five on tour.

1 Original Band Personnel
2 Biography
3 Discography
4 Samples
5 External links

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Original Band Personnel

Lionel Richie (vocals, saxophone, piano) - born on 20 June, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Thomas McClary (lead guitar) - born on 6 October, 1950, in Eustis, Florida.
Milan Williams (keyboards) - born on 28 March, 1948, in Mississippi.
William King (trumpet) - born on 30 January, 1949, in Florida.
Ronald La Pread (bass guitar) - born on 4 September, 1946, in Alabama.
Walter Orange (vocals, drums) - born on 10 December, 1946, in Florida.

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Biography

The group are perhaps best known for their ballads such as "Easy" & "Three Times a Lady", which are not, however, considered representative of their output. Usually, they recorded funky, driven dance floor hits including "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", and "Slippery When Wet", amongst others. Lionel Richie's "Oh No" was highlighted in the movie The Last American Virgin. Later, "Machine Gun", the instrumental title track from their debut album, become a staple at American sporting events, and has similarly been featured in many films, including Boogie Nights. Another instrumental, "Cebu" (named after an island in the Philippines) later became a staple in the Quiet Storm format. Band members typically traded lead vocal duties. After Lionel Richie left to presue a solo career, former Heatwave singer J.D. Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with Drummer Walter Orange. However, with the exception of the Grammy winning "Nightshift," the band never achieved the same level of success it enjoyed with Richie. Ironically, "Nightshift" won the Commodores their only Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.

Over time, founding members began leaving; McClary (1982, shortly after Richie left), LaPread (1986), and Williams, (1989). The group also gradually abandoned their funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena.

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