These are surprising, even shocking, words from an artist whose achievements, creatively and commercially? have been anything but simple.

Lionel Richie is, after all, one of the world's most recognized and rewarded performers. He's sold nearly 100 million albums and notched 22 Top 10 hits. Among the many awards that graces his shelves, the collection includes five Grammy Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, not to mention piles of American Music and People's Choice awards. ?I want to find the simplest phrase that everybody says, no matter what language you speak.?

Richie's perspective is a product of nearly four decades of making music, since he co-founded the Commodores in 1967 at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Signed in 1971 to Motown, The Commodores became one of America's most popular bands by the mid-'70s. Richie began stepping outside the Commodores after producing Kenny Roger?s album "Share Your Love" in 1981, which spawned the hit "Lady". "Endless Love," his 1981 chart-topping duet with Diana Ross was Motown's most successful single and further fueled Richie's solo ambitions.

After leaving the Commodores, Richie became one of the most successful male solo artists of the '80s. Going it alone proved to be the correct decision. Following the release of his 1982 eponymous debut, the first single, ?Truly,? went straight to No. 1 and the subsequent single, ?You Are,? raced quickly into the Top 10. His next album, Can?t Slow Down, soared even higher. Sitting at No. 1 for an astounding two months, the record featured the two gold singles, ?Hello? and ?All Night Long,? as well as three other Top 10 cuts.

Richie performed and co-wrote (with Michael Jackson) the USA For Africa benefit single ?We Are The World,? which went No. 1 in 1985 and raised millions for famine relief. Later that year he was No. 1 again with ?Say You, Say Me,? a song also earning Richie his first Academy Award for ?Best Original Song? from the film White Nights.

Following the release of 1985?s No. 1 album, Dancing On The Ceiling, Richie decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. Eventually, he would return with 1996?s gold certified Louder Than Words, 1998?s Time as well as a tour with Tina Turner and his 2001 CD, Renaissance. The year 2003 brought the release of the Encore and he performed a sold-out world tour in support of his 2004 release Just For You.

Currently, Richie is recording a new album. Along with his personal triumphs, Richie has dedicated himself to making positive contributions outside of his music. He has been an active member of the Los Angeles NARAS Chapter for over 20 years and, through his partnership with the Toys ?R? Us Children?s Fund, has graciously contributed his time and resources to the GRAMMY Foundation?s GRAMMY in the Schools program.

?So much of my career has been about saying things the way people say them, not using melodies that only I can sing but those that the people can sing. 'All Night Long' will always be 'All Night Long.' 'Easy like Sunday morning' will always be 'Easy like Sunday morning.' ? if you look at the titles, they say the entire thought before you even go into the story.?

And that's why the music has stayed around so long.