GERMANY: U.S. soul singer Lionel Richie says he will keep going, is far from retirement as he picks up German "Golden Camera" award

Record ID: 775026

  • Title: GERMANY: U.S. soul singer Lionel Richie says he will keep going, is far from retirement as he picks up German "Golden Camera" award
  • Date: 8th February 2007
  • Summary: CONCERT POSTER
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ZOSIN5Y32QCLIH2WGO79SOPG
  • Story Text: American soul singer Lionel Richie arrived in Germany on Thursday (February 1) to collect the prestigious "Golden Camera" award to honour his achievements in music.
    The award is considered one of Europe's most prestigious entertainment awards organised by the HÖRZU television magazine and honours artists who have made a particular impact on German audiences.
    Richie said he was honoured to be picking up a prize.
    "What's happening in America right now, I mean we are talking about Oscars and Grammy week coming up in a minute in America but this is a huge deal in Germany. And so when I happened to mention to my friend and my press agent in America that I am picking up a Golden Camera he turned around and said, "You are picking up the Golden Camera?", in other ways as if to say, "I am pretty grown up now. thank you very much." So I am really honoured to receive this and to be here in person to do it. It's quite an honour, quite an honour," he said.
    The singer insisted he was not ready to put down the microphone and retire.
    "I am going to keep this thing rolling as long as...because this is the best play period in the world. This is the best play period. I am still wearing the same clothes probably as I had in college a little bit more expensive because jeans went up but other than that I am really enjoying what I am doing and the whole process of this is to keep it going. So you know, it's...I don't think retirement is in the cards anyway."
    Lionel Richie, 57, founded the Motown group The Commodores which kicked off his musical career.
    In 1982, Richie went solo and released more than 100 songs of different styles of which 22 made it into the charts, among them such classics as "All Night Long," "Dancing On The Ceiling" and "Three Times My Lady."
    But there may be more awards in store for Richie. The singer has been nominated for two Grammys at the awards ceremony being held next week: Best R'n'B album for "Coming Home" and Best Male R'n'B song for "I Call it Love".
    He said he enjoyed returning to his roots to record "Coming Home".
    "I am from the south, an R'n'B guy at heart. It is the foundation of how I was raised and brought up and all of a sudden someone says, "Well, what have you not done in a long time?" "R'n'B." And so to go back to it and of course, where did we record most of it? Atlanta, Georgia. Exactly 39 or 40 miles away from my hometown of Tuskegee. So it really is a coming home of my talent and of my way of life so it was wonderful. I enjoyed it," Richie said.
    The next generation of Richies is already competing for the limelight. Nicole Richie, Lionel Richie's adopted daughter, has made her own name alongside Paris Hilton in the Fox Networks "The Simple Life".
    "What I wish for her is just longevity. You know, she has started out really very well. In her three years of being in the business she is known around the world. It took us, it took the Comodores at least ten years to finally be known around the world. So she is ahead of the game already. You know it just takes that to start. And the second part of that is just the fact that she will enjoy it and it is not so much a business where you make a lot of money but you enjoy the business, then the money comes. But if you are looking for that fast, instant kind of fame and money it is going to be boring to you because it doesn't happen quite like that. But she is very excited about it and having the best time ever so I am sure she will be all right for the minute."
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