Lionel Richie On His Friendship With Michael
July 19, 2022
![Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie at GRAMMY Awards February 25, 1986 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California](https://cdn-p.smehost.net/sites/28d35d54a3c64e2b851790a18a1c4c18/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/220719_mj_lionelrichie_FEAT.jpg)
This week in 1971 the Jackson 5 began their summer tour with opening act The Commodores, featuring lead vocalist Lionel Richie. That tour was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Richie and Michael. “I was like a big brother to Michael. We talked constantly, right to the end. We both got fame fast, but he was the hare, and I was the tortoise.”