Multiple award winning singer/songwriter and popular American musician, Lionel Richie, will headline the upcoming 17th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which takes place from June 27-29.
“We feel privileged to have such a global musical icon as Lionel Richie visit St. Kitts to add his remarkable talent and numerous award-winning songs to this year’s Music Festival,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, minister of tourism and international transport, trade, industry, commerce and consumer Affairs, in a written release. “Blending renowned international acts such as Mr. Richie with rising local stars and top Caribbean artists in a festive, block-party type of atmosphere is what keeps patrons coming back to our festival year after year. This year, I expect the festivities to continue ‘all night long’.”
With a roster of hit songs and multiple awards for his music, Richie is arguably one of the music industry’s most recognized names. In the early 1970s, Richie joined a band that five college classmates were forming which would later become The Commodores, for whom Richie wrote some of his most enduring songs including, “Still,” “Sail On,” “Easy,” and the group’s first number one hit, “Three Times a Lady,” which earned a 1979 American Music Award as well as a People’s Choice Award. Richie went on to collaborate with other artists, including Kenny Rogers, for whom he wrote, “Lady,” which spent six weeks at number one on the charts.
Richie embarked on his solo career in 1982 with the hit single “Truly.” The following year saw the release of his album, “Can’t Slow Down,” which included the Caribbean-style hit, “All Night Long,” and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide to become the biggest selling album in the history of Motown Records.
In addition to Richie, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Konshens, Tessanne Chin, the Cayon Pantastics, Andy Narell featuring Relator with special guest Etienne Charles, Superblue (Austin Lyons), Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin were also announced as performers for the 2013 event.
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