Lionel Richie Reveals Details of Country Duets Album, ‘Tuskegee’
Surpassing his creative and personal boundaries, Lionel Richie comes full circle with the innovative and personal Tuskegee, performing 13 of his most revered “anthems of our day” with some of the biggest names in Country Music, including Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, and Blake Shelton. On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, and Jimmy Buffett.
“As my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to the Country genre,” says the living legend as he taps on the keys of the piano in his state-of-the-art recording studio. It was when Conway Twitty sang “Three Times a Lady” along with songs such as “Lady” and “Deep River Women” that Richie knew Country Music was clearly omnipresent in the lyrics he wrote.
“I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. I am a country boy and proud of it. To do this project just felt natural,” says Richie.
“Growing up with Country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer,” he says, “and the title, Tuskegee, is a validation of my growing up there-the place I call home.”
Envisioning and bringing Tuskegee to life with such grace and passion has been a rewarding, revelatory time for Richie.
“What began as a collaboration of talented people ended up being a great group of friends getting together to make great music,” says Richie.
“Tuskegee is a state of mind as it is a place,” he adds,” a place of possibility, hope, promise, self-empowerment, and where dreams come true.”
Richie will sing selected duets from the album at the upcoming 45th Annual CMA Awards.
[rmore type=”more”]Click the ‘more’ button below to see the track listing for ‘Tuskegee’… [/rmore]
Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Track-Listing:
“You Are” with Blake Shelton
“Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
“Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
“Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
“My Love” with Kenny Chesney
“Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
“Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
“Sail On” with Tim McGraw
“Endless Love” with Shania Twain
“Just For You” with Billy Currington
“Lady” with Kenny Rogers
“Easy” with Willie Nelson
“All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett
The album is slated to hit stores in March 2012.
