LR/Tuskegee Project
letter to friends
Nov 8, 2011

• personal letter from Lionel Richie

To my friends,

Well here we go…

I am thrilled to share a piece of my personal journey into country music with you. At first it may sound a bit strange, but upon further investigation it is as natural as coming home.

I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, and I am proud of my Southern roots. I grew up with country, R&B, gospel and classical music—priceless gifts from my grandmother and community.

This place called Tuskegee is where it all began—the place where I felt that everything was available and possible. It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.

Tuskegee also proved the perfect melting pot for all of my influences as a writer, and as my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to country music.

Some people say you can never go home. In this case, I am home.

My new album, Tuskegee, is a journey of return and revelation. It’s about where I came from and how I arrived at where I am today.

…I’ve come full circle. It’s a validation. It’s a state of mind. A place that represents possibilities, hope, promise, empowerment, and where dreams come true—no matter how old or young you are, or where you’re from.

Yours,

Lionel

P.S. Let’s stay connected through my website and on Facebook and Twitter. Look for Tuskegee in March!