Commodores

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Biography

Tuskegee, Alabama, USA (1968 – present)

Commodores are a highly successful soul / funk band from Tuskegee, Alabama, USA formed in 1968 and very successful 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.

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, died June 9th, 2006 in Houston.

* 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.

Many of their hit tunes were written or co-written by Walter “Clyde” Orange, the original lead singer before Lionel Richie came on board. Lionel and Clyde alternated as lead singers. Clyde was also the lead singer on “Nightshift” and “Brick House” among others. Clyde now lives with his family in Coral Springs, Florida and has three children named Paula, Colin and Cody.

Band members typically alternated lead vocal duties. After Richie left to pursue a solo career, former Heatwave singer J.D. Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with drummer Walter “Clyde” Orange. However, with the exception of the Grammy-winning “Nightshift” (a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson) the band never achieved the same level of success it had enjoyed with Richie. Ironically, “Nightshift” won The Commodores their only Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.

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  • -Untamed-

    Grew up on these guys. <3

    3 Feb 12:46am Reply
  • E636L30

    everything they ever made is on my computer and i listen to them everyday,they're music lives on

    10 Dec 2012 Reply
  • E636L30

    zoom is the song of songs and the commodores are my favorite group of all time

    10 Dec 2012 Reply
  • renatol2210

    Easy

    5 Mar 2012 Reply
  • martinjanac

    Nice track

    9 Oct 2011 Reply
  • martinjanac

    Nice track

    9 Oct 2011 Reply
  • UnfortunatelyGr

    I really like their sophisti-funk phase... as represented by the Natural High, Midnight Magic and In The Pocket albums. :-p A softer sound that pointed towards the Lionel solo stuff, but not too 'poppy' yet either.

    26 Sep 2011 Reply
  • keithedg

    wish i could have seen him in concert one of my favorites of his many others

    24 Sep 2011 Reply
  • keithedg

    wish i could have seen him in concert one of my favorites of his many others

    24 Sep 2011 Reply
  • keithedg

    wish i could have seen him in concert one of my favorites of his many others

    24 Sep 2011 Reply
  • keithedg

    wish i could have seen him in concert one of my favorites of his many others

    24 Sep 2011 Reply
  • keithedg

    wish i could have seen him in concert one of my favorites of his many others

    24 Sep 2011 Reply
  • William_RL

    Easy <3

    23 Jul 2011 Reply
  • borromo

    "Lovin you" Boy, what a great song. The old adage holds true in this instance " Good things dont come easily"

    30 Jun 2011 Reply
  • drastic67

    still, sail on, easy, sweet love.

    29 Jun 2011 Reply
  • DM09

    fuck yeah, been listening to this shit on vinyl. so sick!

    14 May 2011 Reply
  • scofo76

    Machine Gun! (2)

    18 Feb 2011 Reply
  • vaughnvhalen

    Know it sounds funny But I just can't stand the pain Girl, I'm leaving you tomorrow Seems to me girl you know I've done all I can You see I begged, stole and I borrowed! (yeah)

    15 Dec 2010 Reply
  • DrJAZZ_MrFUNK

    drjazzmrfunkmusic

    13 Nov 2010 Reply
  • barryvs

    You don't simply grow 'fro's like that, they just find you.

    16 Oct 2010 Reply
  • All 92 shouts

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