1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: What do you do when life doesn't go according to 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: plan that moment you lose a job, or a loved one, 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: or even a piece of yourself. I'm Brookshields and this 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: is now What, a podcast about pivotal moments as told 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: by people who lived them. Each week, I sit down 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: with a guest to talk about the times they were 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: knocked off course and what they did to move forward. 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: Some stories are funny, others are cutwrenching, but all are 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: unapologetically human and remind us that every success and every 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: setback is accompanied by a choice, and that choice answers 11 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: one question. Now, what we met? And it was as 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: if I had never had my life without you, And 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: I can't explain it, you know, And I remember it 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: was like what the parking lot? I think it was, 15 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: It's true, and I remember it was a parking lot. 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: You remember that, Yes, of course I remember it. And 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: I remember thinking like, oh, let me tell you, okay, 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: because I remember it as if it happened yesterday. So 19 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: you didn't. You didn't approach from the front. You snuck 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: up from the back and you and you came up 21 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: to me, and you I remember sitting there talking and 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: you came up and hugged me from the back, and 23 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: I said, who in the world is this? And I 24 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: turned from my hand. That's exactly right, and I'm thinking 25 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: to myself, what is going on? I turn around and 26 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: broke your right. It was as if we had known 27 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: each other for the last hundred years. You were so 28 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: familiar and so down to earth that we were two 29 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: kids just discovering each other again at the in the sandbox, 30 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. And it was gossip, gossip, gossip, gossip, 31 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: gossip forever. We just picked up on everything. My guest 32 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: today is an icon in the music world. Lionel Ritchie 33 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: is an award winning musician and prolific songwriter. He first 34 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: found success as a member of the Commodours and moved 35 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: almost seamlessly from motown to solo superstardom with a string 36 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: of massive hits, including one of my personal favorites, All 37 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: Night Long. He's a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award winner, 38 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: a multi platinum artist many times over, and a member 39 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But most importantly, 40 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: this man has been a mentor, a friend, and a 41 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: confidant since I was sixteen years old. He's always been 42 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: there for me and so I was thrilled, although not surprised, 43 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: that he agreed to do the show. So, without further ado, 44 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: here is Lionel Richie. I'm so excited to actually see 45 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: you in person. I've been hearing your sweet voice on 46 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: my own and seeing you on FaceTime sometimes, but I 47 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: miss you. Congratulations to you, and let me just tell 48 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: you something. I love being on this show because we 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: get to gossip anyway. So this is all about what 50 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: we do off Mike anyway. So here we are used 51 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: to Where are you right now? I'm in La California 52 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: at my house, which is probably the novelty of life 53 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: because I very seldom here. As you well know, it 54 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: feels like you're always touring. I'm always sure. Yeah, so 55 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: every time you know me, I mean in Europe or 56 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: I'm over in some parts of the country. Now that 57 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: the pandemic is over, I'm touring full time. Now I'm 58 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: around the world. Really, Yeah, how do you two love it? 59 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: Is it different now at the stage in your career 60 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: than it was in your twenties or your thirties. Well, 61 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: I can answer that question for you very simply. No, 62 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: it's not any different in terms of the enthusiasm. What's 63 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: really different is now instead of doing three shows or 64 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: four shows in a row, we do two shows in 65 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: a road. Take a break, two shows in a row, 66 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: take a break, Otherwise you'll burn yourself out completely. But 67 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: as far as the crowds are concern Brooke, they are 68 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: still showing up. Oh my god, Well, I mean, I 69 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: want you question it. Why why not? You're brilliant and 70 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: your heart is so beautiful, and I feel like you 71 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: epitomize music and you've been an icon in the music 72 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: industry for so long. But I honestly think it's because 73 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: of the passion that you've had from music ever since 74 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: you were a little bitty kid. And I would love 75 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: to talk about just a little bit about some of 76 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: those memories of little little baby Lionel. Oh my god, 77 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: loving music. I would love that's It's very interesting. I 78 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: grew up on a university campus. I grew up onto 79 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: in Alabama, in Alabama, Tuskegee University. And when I say 80 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: grew up on the campus, literally on the campus of 81 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: the university. And so my mother was an elementary school teacher, 82 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: and my grandmother was a music instructor and also one 83 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: of the people up there on the campus. And my 84 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: father was of course in the military at that time, 85 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: because we had two divisions, the arm in the Air Force. 86 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: Tuskegee Airmen were the Air Force, and the Army was 87 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: of course the base on the campus. So I'm basically 88 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: in a full time military base with a university campus. 89 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: I'll put it. Got it, okay. And what made it 90 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: so interesting was it was in the South, so gospel 91 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: music guaranteed, the gospel choir on the campus guaranteed. Country 92 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: music was all on the airways because that was pop 93 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: music back then. And then the blues and R and 94 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: B was all around us. And a little twist in 95 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: my life was my grandmother was a classical pianist, and 96 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: so right in the middle of all of this blues 97 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: and R and B and gospel and country, I would 98 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: wake up every morning hear my grandmother played back and Beethoven, 99 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, it just became part of 100 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: the flow of the sound of the house. So I 101 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: was in this little melting pot surrounded so it was 102 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: just it was very interesting. I didn't realize I was 103 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: going to be a writer, and then as I started writing, 104 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: I realized all of those, those influences started coming out. No, 105 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: do you remember when you wrote your first song? Well, 106 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: I do, I do it. I am a little kid. 107 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: I was a little kid. It was called House of Clay. 108 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: That's funny you would ask that question. And I never 109 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: put it out. I never recorded it. But I just 110 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: thought I had written. You would have thought I would 111 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: have written the Star Spangled Banning. I'm walking around the 112 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: house and my little house of Clay and they can't say, 113 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: Lionel Junior, please stopped humming that song. But I was 114 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: just somebody gave me a tape recorder and that was 115 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: the big the reel to reel at that time. Was 116 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: it a love story or was it just a love story? 117 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: To the House of Clay. It was love story. It 118 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: was the love story was in the House of Clay, 119 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: in our little house of Clay. Oh my god. So 120 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: you've been writing love songs to since day one is 121 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: about maybe six or seven, not knowing it for anybody. No, 122 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: it was basically for myself. I mean, you have to 123 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: understand it was. It was no, there was nothing happening 124 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: at that time. Where is there a line you remember 125 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: from it or some words or yeah, in our little 126 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: house of clay. It was in our little house of clay, 127 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: things can be so beautiful in our little house of clay. 128 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: That's good. Oh, I love it, Okay, So if I 129 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: had to write an essay on it, I would talk 130 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: about sort of molding your home to protect those in it. 131 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: You're having it be safe but crafted and warm, and 132 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: it was. It was. It was also very comforting. I 133 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: think the thing was you could tell, probably at that 134 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: stage of my life, that I was safe, you know, 135 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: it felt safe. And so to write a song like 136 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: house of Clay, in our little house of clay, it was. 137 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: It was a very safe spot in my head, in 138 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: my heart, and so I kind of look back on 139 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: it now. You would bring that up. I just I'm 140 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: just thinking about it now for the first time. But 141 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: of course you would, really, But it was just one 142 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: of those moments in my life where because sometimes childhood 143 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: can be a little traumatizing as as you well know, 144 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: as when you grow up. It's it's one of those 145 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: things where things that you think are wonderful are not 146 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: exactly the greatest things in the world. I think I 147 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: used that song as my place to go, well, you know, 148 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: when you when you grow When you grow up as 149 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: a kid, you know, kids can be you know, if 150 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: you don't play baseball, you know, they bully you, you know, 151 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: so you retreat into this place where you feel safe. 152 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: So I think now that you kind of brought that up, 153 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: I kind of probably use that little metaphor the House 154 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: of Clay as a place I could go inside in 155 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 1: my head, because member, now I'm on a you're on 156 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: a university campus, and when you're growing up. I had 157 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: a great childhood. It's just the part was where you 158 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: go to hide some days. So this is the sixties 159 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: in Alabama. Sixties in Alabama, which I mean already that 160 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: brings up a lot, that brings up everything. And but 161 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: the funny thing about it, we were on a university campus, 162 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: all black university campus, so everything was safe. In other words, 163 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: we didn't know as kids that what was happening outside 164 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: fifteen miles away, twenty miles away from Tuskegee was the 165 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: civil rights movement. And you know, you know, Martin Luther 166 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: King is right down the street, and and the entire 167 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: bus boycott, all this is happening right down the street. 168 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: But yet our the little cocoon, if we called it, 169 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: the bubble. You know, we felt safe in this environment 170 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: on the on the campus as kids. And when did 171 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: you start realizing that there was this other, more hostile 172 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: world right outside your bubble that your parents created. I 173 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: would say probably in my middle of my seventh eighth 174 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: grade year. It's funny how life happens. You know, it 175 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: was happening right in Montgomery, Alabama. It was happening right 176 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: there in Selma, Alabama, exactly what twenty miles away, thirty 177 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: miles away, and yet it had to go to Walter 178 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: Cronkite in New York City and then I see it 179 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: on the evening news, what's happening right down the street 180 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: from where I lived. But as time went on, we 181 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: became really aware. As beginning high school kids, we knew 182 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: what was going on clearly because at that particular point 183 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: we were starting to integrate the schools downtown in Tuskegee, 184 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: and that was the whole beginning of the awareness. Did 185 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: your parents talk to you about it? Did you Did 186 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,599 Speaker 1: they sit you down at all? And yeah, yeah, I 187 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: mean they set us down, But we didn't have the 188 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: problem that we have today, which is the day you 189 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: have to have a dialogue with your your your sons 190 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: and daughters black kids, to tell them how to navigate 191 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: the police and how to navigate confrontation, because it's it's 192 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: really every day in your face everywhere in the world. 193 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: Here in Alabama, it was one of those at that 194 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: particular time. It was just basically we didn't have to 195 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: worry about leaving home because if we left home, our 196 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: parents were with us up until up until, you know, 197 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: high school, so we didn't really have that conversation of 198 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: survival is just come home and home met just down 199 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: the street and that's it and safe and safe. So 200 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: when when do you you here your talking about that 201 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: and then you grow up in a little bit more 202 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: and it's nineteen sixty eight is when you join Commodore. 203 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: We were freshmen on the university campus. How fabulous was 204 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: this if we weren't the Commodore as yet? But it 205 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: was a nice freshman group of guys who thought we 206 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: were going to take over the world and kill the 207 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: campus with our incredible music. Not realized the world. I mean, Brooke, 208 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: if I had any idea that that little freshman talent 209 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: show was going to morph into a career. What happened 210 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: to me on that particular day when we had the 211 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: freshman talent show on the campus changed my life forever, 212 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: which was I was too slow to run track, I 213 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: was too short to play basketball, I was too small 214 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: to play football. The only sport I could play was tennis. 215 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: And no girls hung around the tennis court while you're 216 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: playing tennis. So all of a sudden, I walk out 217 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: on the stage at the freshman talent show and the 218 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: girls started screaming, and I said, Okay, I don't know 219 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: what this business is, but I'm in it. That's all 220 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: I want. And they've been screaming ever since. Hallelujah. Well 221 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: that's why. That's why all you have to do. Would say, 222 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: is it me? You're looking for it, and people that's it? 223 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, well, it just you played right into it. 224 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: I've been a sucker for it ever since. I tell you. 225 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: I read somewhere that you told your daughter, I think 226 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: it was Sophia, I wish you lots of failure young, 227 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: and I found I found that very interesting because I 228 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: think that's an important lesson. Were there any pivotal failures 229 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: from your youth or your life that made a impact. 230 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: That's a very good question, and the answer is I 231 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: didn't realize what success was because I kept failing all 232 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: the time. You know the words. I guess I just 233 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: thought that failing that was there going to be the story, 234 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: because I mean, first of all, think about it, I 235 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: grew up on an academic campus. Was I very fond 236 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: of academics? Absolutely not? How are my grades in math terrible? 237 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: Do I remember texts to the point where I can 238 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: regurgitate the text in five seconds? No? I didn't know 239 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: what a d D was or ADHD. Didn't know what hyperactive? Well, 240 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: we didn't know what it was then, yeah, well we'll 241 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: see they knew what it was. It was called this 242 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: guy has a problem. This kid has a problem. So 243 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: back in my day, it was never comfanying to have it. 244 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: It was always always we're trying to figure out line 245 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: or slow him down. But I didn't realize that was 246 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: a real positive if you know what it was and 247 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: how to navigate it. As time went on, I realized 248 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: that those moments of failure. When I say failure, I 249 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: mean I wasn't at the top of the class. I'm 250 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: getting to the music business with the commodorees, and I realized, 251 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: how do you learn how to be on stage. You 252 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: have to walk on stage. You know, there's only one way. 253 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: You could take all the courses. You can take all 254 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: the music you want to, but the bottom line is, 255 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: if you want to be a performer, you have to 256 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: go on stage. What happens on stage? Trial and error? 257 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: Yes you can sing, but can't you sing while the 258 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: fight's going on over in the in the bar? You know? 259 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: One is there one sort of moment that performance that 260 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: stood out for you where we really got that trial 261 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: and it aired on error? Yeah, it was error on error. 262 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: And the point was I do remember one night we 263 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: were playing and right in the middle of the show, 264 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: the lady walks on stage. Now remember that this is 265 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: not Madison Square Gardens. This is a club. This is 266 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: a club. Okay, So a lady walks on to lady 267 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: walks on stage, and I have the microphone, and how 268 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: do you deal with someone who wants to talk in 269 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: the microphone with you when it's your show while you're 270 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: trying to sing. And so that's a moment, that's a 271 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: teachable moment. And I remember sitting there trying to sing 272 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: the song and she's trying to talk, and what I 273 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: should have done? Now, I should have dealt with it 274 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: a different way. But at the time my frozen said, so, 275 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: like an idiot, what did I do? I gave her 276 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: the microphone? Oh gosh, And you know the answer to that, 277 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: Oh no, I mean, you know it's like, now you'd 278 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: probably I mean, if it was not a security breach, 279 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: which to me that's already sounds like a nightmare in security. 280 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: But I could see you then singing the song to her. Yeah, 281 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: in a way, I'm like, I'm figuring that out and 282 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: then everybody you know, so there's there's ways to do it. 283 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: But I mean, that's just a moment. You cannot scare 284 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: me now. In life, you cannot. I mean, every imaginable 285 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: thing that's probably happened. But trial and arab were going 286 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: back to your question, trial and error is the key 287 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: to getting really good. People don't hear about that. They 288 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: don't hear about the failures or the errors. Yeah, I mean, 289 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: I'd love to tell you that every song I've written 290 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: over the years was a hit. That's not true. You 291 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: have to how many songs did I throw away or 292 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: how many ideas that you throw away to kind of 293 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 1: capture that one little jewel that's really stand out and 294 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: so you know, you try it, you try it, you 295 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: put it together, you try you take it apart. It 296 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: took me longer to write All Night Long than any 297 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: other song because it had so many different parts to it. 298 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 1: I couldn't figure out where's the ending of this song. 299 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: It just kept shifts in the middle. It goes on 300 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: and there's three hoods, another shift, and then Tom Beliethy 301 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: said no more yards over here, and then All Night 302 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: longs over here. Then Jambo Jambo's back over here. Karamu 303 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: fiesta for whatever. I've got so many parts. What do 304 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: I do with all these parts? It could either be 305 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: a grand disaster or it could be a great thing. 306 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: You know, you have to really embrace failure, if you 307 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: if you approach something from fear, then you're halfway doing it. 308 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: You know, just kind of lean into it. If you're 309 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,239 Speaker 1: gonna do it, do it well, and then you just 310 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: if it doesn't work out, I mean, you know, then 311 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: you just move on and you try something else. You know, 312 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: if this doesn't work out, then you try another one. 313 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: You know, but you always talk. You always sort of 314 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: bring it back to the people who are in your 315 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: personal life who sort of grounded you through all whether 316 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: I mean you started talking up about that with the tour, 317 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: and through I imagine successes and failures, you still have 318 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 1: that base to go back to. And what I find 319 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: especially interesting is that you got married early. Your first 320 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: marriage was to college sweetheart. College sweetheart. Yes, I was 321 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: basically a senior and she at that point was basically 322 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: a sophomore. And we met each other there. But at 323 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: that point we went on after she graduated. I'm now 324 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: in the commodorees full time, so it was maybe four 325 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: to five years after we met you got married and 326 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: we got married. Yeah, And was she living with you 327 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: in Hollywood? Oh yeah, Oh no, definitely, we moved out 328 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: right after well, let me put out this for the Commodore's, No, 329 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: for the commadoors. We were in Alabama full time. And 330 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: then after Kenny Rogers, this is well into my commodore 331 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: commodore career. Where now Kenny Rogers is when I moved 332 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,479 Speaker 1: into Hollywood, California. And that was the AHA moment in 333 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: my life when I realized, this is not Kansas anymore. 334 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: We are not in Kansas, you know what I'm saying. 335 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: It was one of those woe yeah, and the forces 336 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: against you, you know, it's just stacked against you at 337 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: that point, because it's like it's like no other place 338 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: I've ever been to before, because I couldn't get one 339 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: person degree on the same philosophy three blocks away. And 340 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: did that affect your relationship? Well? Always, I mean you 341 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: don't know that, you know because you figure, you figure 342 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: it's remember that you're born and raised in a small town. 343 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: The funny thing about it, in my small town of Tuskegee, 344 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: I'll give you a statistic, no one in my entire 345 00:19:54,400 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: community ever got a divorce. Oh you understand, all right. 346 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 1: So now here we are in Hollywood, California, and you think, 347 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: you know Hollywood is like Alabama, you know it's nobody. No, 348 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: it's not. It's not a nurturing place. Let me put 349 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: it that way, married or not married, married or not married, 350 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: it's not a nurturing place. It's not a place where 351 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: you feel safe to say. You know. What I loved 352 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: about Tuskegee was the whole town had the same philosophy. 353 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: That's number one. Number two. I didn't have to hide 354 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: from my mom and dad. I had to hide from 355 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: the whole town. If I was sneaking, you follow me. 356 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: So the whole town raised me. Here in Hollywood, California. 357 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: All you have to do is cross the street. You 358 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: don't have to go out of your neighborhood. And it's 359 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: a different philosophy every day. Meanwhile, what was happening the 360 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: most was you still trying to discover the new you 361 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: or me in this case, you know, I mean I 362 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: was a commodore. I didn't know anything about solo life, 363 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 1: solo career, and so all of this is happening just 364 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: about the time I'm meeting you. So you had been 365 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: married about fifteen years and you had the one that 366 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: col that was that was that was a bright light. 367 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you have to understand that that was one 368 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: of those things that little angel comes along at the 369 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,199 Speaker 1: right time and kind of solidifies your life. That was 370 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 1: one of those things that happened. I wasn't you know 371 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: in life there's surprises that makes the difference. That was 372 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: a wonderful surprise that came along. And I love her 373 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: to death, oh, I mean I know, and she loves 374 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: you so much, and she just came into your life 375 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: and it changed well, I tell you what it did. 376 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: It kind of get It gave me an anchor when 377 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: I say an anchor in a good way. You know 378 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: when we use the word grounding, you know, every once 379 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: in a while, and you know, this business, it's so 380 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: much about me, me, me, I, I my mind that 381 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: when you find a little face that comes along and 382 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: you realize, okay, now there's a person right here that 383 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 1: needs my assistance, it's called my kid. And from that 384 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: point on, you know, I kind of enjoyed watching her 385 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: stumble and grow, and because she came in with a 386 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: lot of stuff at the time, but it was one 387 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: of those things where I really felt connected to her 388 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: to kind of no matter what was craziness was happening 389 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,239 Speaker 1: in my life and in my ex wife's life. You know, 390 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: we wanted to make a commitment to make sure that 391 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: her life was solid. And what was your experience like 392 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: co parenting that was? Wow? Well, um, I'll put it 393 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: like this. The PTA meetings that we had in Alabama 394 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: were not the same PTA piece we had Hollywood, California. 395 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 1: Those were some different kind of parents altogether. But again, 396 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 1: co parenting was one of the agreements that we had. 397 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: It was it was difficult, but but the co parenting 398 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: part was easy because we both agreed that we loved 399 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: her she is. That's that's the story. I mean, I 400 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: could you have to know Brook, It's it's this business 401 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: is like strange, but at the same time, you can 402 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 1: survive it. But it's going to take an effort. It's 403 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: not going to be an easy ride. And that that's 404 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: not only for the artist, but it's also for the kids, 405 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: the kids, the parents, the grandparents. Everyone's going to go 406 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: through the Canada, you know, shout through the Canadas. It's tough. 407 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: I'd love to switch a little to your solo career 408 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: because that's I mean, we met around the time that 409 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 1: you decided to to go solo, and um, you recorded 410 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: Endless Love. I remember I told you that story, right. 411 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: The producers wanted me to sing it as this little girl, 412 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: and so I was going to sing it with you 413 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: and was all ready and then this Diana, somebody some 414 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: come up and coming right now, some lady come up 415 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: and coming in. Yes, and the business. Yes, my mother comes. 416 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: My mother said, honey, Um, you know that song you 417 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: were supposed to sing for the for the studio. You're 418 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: not gonna sing it anymore. I was like, you're kidding. 419 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: It was I couldn't believe it. Um, but you had 420 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: been with the Commodorees by that point for about fourteen years. 421 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: What made you finally decide that you could or would 422 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: or wanted to go out on your own? You know what? 423 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: Didn't want to go on my own, had no I wouldn't. 424 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: I know that sounds like a shot. Wasn't going that route. 425 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: It just I was writing my behind off. And when 426 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: I say that, I mean in a good way. I 427 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: loved writing. And so here's Kenny Rodgers and so and so, 428 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: and I've got around in this love. And of course 429 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: they kind of backed me into in this love because 430 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: how it came to me was we need an instrumental. 431 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: And I said, oh, okay, okay, that's fine, And so 432 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: I hummed this little bab ba song bah blah blah 433 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah 434 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: blah blah. It just came to you, and you and 435 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: I Bob bought it, and they said okay. And they 436 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 1: came back to me and said, okay, can we do 437 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: the bah bah? Next thing? I know that came to me. 438 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: Next thing, I knew at that point we're gonna have 439 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: her sing the first verse to the person in the room. 440 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: Could you write us a first verse? Okay, my love, 441 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: this is only you in my life, the only thing 442 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: that's right. But first you have a breath that I take. 443 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: You have a step I make good, Lila. We've decided 444 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: to make that extended now and make it a full song. 445 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: Could you write the lyrics? And we're gonna make it 446 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: a duet? Wow? Okay, who would you like to have 447 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: to do it? And I'm thinking to myself, I'm doing 448 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: Kenny Rogers, I'm doing the Commodorees at night, Kenny Ross 449 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: in the day. I don't have any time in between 450 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 1: to do this. All it was supposed to be was 451 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 1: a simple instrumental and now here I am with Diana Ross. 452 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 1: And but I tell you this took a life of 453 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: its own. I mean, it came on and the rest 454 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: is magical history. I must tell you, because us Diana, 455 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: just the combination about voices came together. Forget about it. 456 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: It was I mean, it was, it was happening. I 457 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: mean I just remember, you know, being so mesmerized by 458 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 1: it and being feeling so lucky that I was on 459 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: I got to be on the cover of the album 460 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: for the song, and I sort of thought, oh god. 461 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: You know, I remember thinking, oh my god, I can't 462 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: believe that I'm on the cover of the album. It's 463 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: so funny, Brooke, because I mean, you've been a part 464 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: of my life, even though because you were so young, 465 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: you you, your face, your image, your being has been 466 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: so much a part of my life that of course 467 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: I thought it was just so natural for you to 468 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: be on the cover. It was like one of those things. 469 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: And I'm thinking to myself, great way to sell a record, 470 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: put Brooke on the front cover. And we haven't hit record, 471 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. But I mean, it's it's 472 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: funny how we just paralleled all the way down through 473 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 1: our careers and just start our emotion and our lives. 474 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: And I always have really phoned you out of the 475 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: blue for just the most emotional moments in my life. 476 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:11,160 Speaker 1: And and that's a relationship I will always cherish. If 477 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: you look back on your life, is there a certain 478 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: decade that that really stands out to you where you 479 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: experienced just the most growth? Yes, yes, well, well that's interesting. Um, 480 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: believe it or not. People think it was the eighties, 481 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: but it was it was. It was the seventies. I 482 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: have to tell you something for me, getting me to 483 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 1: not be frozen on stage and to go out on 484 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: stage with confidence and say give me the microphone, give 485 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 1: me that mike, give me that mike. You know, I 486 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 1: mean with because I was this shy kid. So my 487 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: most growth was to go from a kid who was 488 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: just in the wings of a stage let alone out 489 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: on stage, to now to be a front man for 490 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: a band. Oh my god, this is like night and day. 491 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: Did you have stage fighter? I was terrified, you know, 492 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 1: because it was I had no ego, so you know 493 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: it was I wanted to be in this bay. I 494 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: don't have it. You're exactly right. I didn't have that 495 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 1: jock mentality like you know, give me the ball coach. 496 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: You know. I wasn't that guy. I would always come 497 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: off stage and they even to this day, they'll say 498 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 1: to me, great show, Lionel, and little voice inside of 499 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: my head will go, really, you know, it's still it's 500 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: still there. It's it saved me. I think Brooke for 501 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: the longest part, I think that lack of real I mean, 502 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong, ego was there when I'm stepping 503 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 1: in the studio, but when it came to actually having 504 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: something to work. It was really almost a surprise to 505 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: me as everybody else. Holy cow, that that records to 506 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: hit record, you know, and was there did you find 507 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: freedom though? When you finally got that sort of that 508 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: different kinds of confidence to sort of in that solo career? 509 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: Did you find the freedom minute in the commodore career 510 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: and in the solo career it was it was probably 511 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,719 Speaker 1: at that particular point in life when you find that 512 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: you know how to do what you know how to do, 513 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: it's yours. In other words, you know, no one does 514 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: that like you do that, and that's a hard thing. 515 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: I mean, that's like to get there, to really be 516 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: able to do that and not compare yourself to other people. 517 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 1: Best time ever in my life, I must tell you, 518 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: because at that particular stage, I didn't have to study Keats. 519 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: I didn't have to study you know, you know, you 520 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: don't have to go back. Just all you have to 521 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,479 Speaker 1: do is just go it. Go Lionel, what are you 522 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: thinking about? And you go, I'll be right back, you know. 523 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: Probably you know, I didn't have to pass an exam, 524 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: you know, And it was that wonderful moment when I 525 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: just said, Okay, I think I've got this, you know, 526 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: because that was really the beautiful part of my life. 527 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: That's wonderful, and I'm sure you'll have more of those. 528 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: I call the show now What because it's I'm always 529 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: interested in in when the unexpected happens, and you know, 530 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: you ask yourself, now, what do I do? And what 531 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: would you say? Or now what moment has been? I 532 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: think that I'd like to look at my career. I'd 533 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: like to look at my life as a calling card. 534 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: It's a it's a what do I What do I 535 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: do with all of this recognition? What do I do 536 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 1: with all these songs? What do I do now for 537 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: the rest of my life? You know? I love walking 538 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: out on stage and the entire world sings with me, 539 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: they laugh with me, they cry in front of me. 540 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: They've lived a life with me. I've gotten now with 541 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: American Idol, this new group of nine to seven year 542 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 1: olds going, that's Lionel, you know, So what do I 543 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: do now with all of this? And I think at 544 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: this point it's a teachable moment now for me because 545 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: I love helping people to understand life is hard. When 546 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: these kids come on that show, they gave me the 547 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: kind of essence of what the world is. So my 548 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: job now is motivating. How can you motivate? I travel 549 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: around the world. I've got fans, they've been divorced, they've 550 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: been broken, they've been you know, every possible thing, and 551 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: here they are on watching me. And so now I'm 552 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: taking the opportunity now to form different organizations around the world. 553 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: I'm involved with King Charles, the Prince's Trust. I'm chairman 554 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: of the board of Trust. We're both the same age, 555 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: and we both have the same mission of how do 556 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: we touch as many people as we can around the world, 557 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: and so that became something really endearing to both of us. 558 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: So we're working with that together. So we're in every 559 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: country in the world now. So give me, give me 560 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: an forty years broken, I'll have it all worked out. Okay, Well, 561 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: I hope you keep having those now what moments? And 562 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: I think that this is another one, and it's it's 563 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: stemming from a really beautiful place and with an even 564 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: more open heart, which I didn't think was possible. But 565 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: you keep doing it feels like it just keeps getting 566 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: bigger and bigger. And thank you so much for spending 567 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: this time with me. I love I love this format 568 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: of now we can. We can just meet on your 569 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: podcast every two weeks or whatever you want to. I 570 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: am here and I'm ready for you. Anytime you want, 571 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: you need something from me, or you want me to 572 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,240 Speaker 1: talk about something. We got it. I will, I would 573 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 1: gladly do it. Well. You will hear from me off 574 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: and on for the rest of your life, so don't 575 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 1: worry about it. Perfect. That was the incredible Lionel Richie. 576 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: If you want to hear more from him, head over 577 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: to Lionel Richie dot com to get tickets for his 578 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: latest tour. That is it for us today, Talk to 579 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: you next week now. What with Brookshields is a production 580 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. Our lead producer and wonderful showrunner is Julia Weaver. 581 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: Additional research and editing by Darby Masters and Abou Zafar. 582 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Christina Everett. The show is mixed 583 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: by Bahed Fraser.