Commodores Info
After meeting at the Tuskegee Institute in 1968, The Commodores, then known as The Jays, formed a match made in heaven when Barry Gordy discovered them at a Commodores concert and promptly signed them to Motown Records. The original lineup consisted of Lionel Richie on sax, guitar and vocals, Thomas McClary on lead guitar, Milan Williams on keyboards and guitar, William King on trumpet and guitar, Ronald La Pread on bass, guitar and trumpet and Walter Orange on drums and vocals. With Lionel Richie and Walter Orange sharing vocals, this funky mix of college kids soared towards legendary status selling over 60 Million records in the 70’s and 80’s.
Their first single, “Machine Gun,” was released in 1974 and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard R & B charts; it was sampled in the hit movies like Boogie Nights, popular shows like “Top of the Pops” and on the Beastie Boys track, “Hey Ladies.” Over the next few years songs like the disco hit “Brick House,” the soft ballads “Easy” and “Three Times a Lady” and the funky favorites “Slippery When Wet” and “Too Hot to Trot” allowed Commodores concerts to sell out to audiences around the world.
In a sudden twist of fate, Lionel Richie decided to spread his wings and pursue a successful solo career in 1983; Thomas McCleary quickly followed suit. Former Heatwave band member, J.D. Nicholas, took over co-lead vocals. To their surprise the Commodores won their first, and only, Grammy after Richie’s departure for the hit single “Night Shift” (a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson) in 1986.
Shortly afterward, the Commodores record contract ended with Motown and they jumped on board for an ill-fated run with Polydor Records. After two unsuccessful album releases and a drastic lineup change with Polydor, the Commodores asked for a release from their label. Sheldon Reynolds joined the popular Earth, Wind and Fire while Ronald LaPread found solice in New Zealand. As an unsigned ban, the Commodores, set out to gain notoriety without the constraints of a commercialized record label by creating their own in 1992- Commodores Records.
Since then, the Commodores have recorded “Commodores Hits Vol I and II,” “Commodores Christmas,” Commodores XX- No Tricks” and live cd featuring footage from their shows. These funky musicians were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003 and are currently in the studio recording a new album- so grab yourself some Commodores tickets and check em out when they come to a city near you!