{"id":2842,"date":"2019-03-04T10:51:04","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T15:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jazzinthegardens.com\/?p=2842"},"modified":"2019-03-05T10:53:54","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T15:53:54","slug":"easy-like-sunday-morning-lionel-richie-at-jazz-in-the-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/2019\/easy-like-sunday-morning-lionel-richie-at-jazz-in-the-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy like Sunday morning: Lionel Richie at Jazz in the Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The annual Jazz in the Gardens festival in Miami Gardens<\/a> has always dreamed big for its headliners, which have included some of the most popular names in R&B, pop, jazz and neo-soul, among them Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, Common, John Legend, Robin Thicke, Usher, Wyclef Jean, Betty Wright, the Roots and Roy Ayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Aretha Franklin was on her way to a JITG show until an illness forced her from the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But no one who has performed at Jazz in the Gardens since its 2006 debut can match the 23 Top 10 singles accrued by 2019 headliner Lionel Richie, from mid-1970s Commodores hits such as \u201cSweet Love,\u201d \u201cBrick House,\u201d \u201cEasy,\u201d \u201cStill\u201d and \u201cThree Times a Lady,\u201d to solo singles \u201cEndless Love,\u201d \u201cAll Night Long\u201d and \u201cSay You, Say Me.\u201d And that doesn\u2019t include his best-known song, \u201cWe Are the World,\u201d co-written with Michael Jackson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual jazz, R&B, funk and hip-hop festival featured Usher, Babyface and Janelle Monae at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on March 18-20. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow SouthFlorida.com on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Snapchat.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, March 10, Richie will help close out two days of music at the 14th annual Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium, a weekend that also features Saturday performances by Teddy Riley and Blackstreet, Bobby Brown, Guy, En Vogue, Stephanie Mills, Black Violin and others. Other Sunday acts include the O\u2019Jays, Brandy and the Jazz in the Gardens All Stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In advance of his performance, the \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d judge replied to email questions about his music, \u201cIdol\u201d and some of his own idols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are one of pop music\u2019s notoriously nice people, but also a judge on \u201cAmerican Idol,\u201d a show that can invite harsh criticism from both judges and viewers. What kind of challenge does that role present? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a judge on \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d has been a lot of fun, but also has its challenges. We as judges are not only looking for the next superstar, but are also here to mentor these kids and give constructive criticism when they might not be ready yet. Hopefully then, we will see them in seasons to come. As artists, we aren’t trying to tear other artists down and, of course, we want everyone to have fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it important for you to make empathy great again, to be a role model in that regard? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel blessed every day to get to do what I do and be able to create my music. I am very proud if people see me as a role model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you were named a judge on \u201cAmerican Idol,\u201d an ABC producer said you were on the \u201cMount Rushmore\u201d of pop performers. Who is on your Mount Rushmore?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Mount Rushmore of pop performers would be Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Michael Jackson, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You were involved in the iconic \u201cWe Are the World\u201d recording. How should the world remember Michael Jackson? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael and I wrote “We Are the World” and we raised millions of dollars for charity, and I’m very proud of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe 18 months ago you were at the Kennedy Center Honors, and you and Gloria Estefan and LL Cool J were sitting together and singing along as Stevie Wonder did his version of \u201cEasy.\u201d How did he do? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was blown away! I didn’t know it was coming. Stevie is always amazing. We had dinner that evening and caught up on the last 25 years. \u2026 I have been friends with Gloria and Emilio [Estefan] since the beginning. I am a fan of her music and it was so special to be honored with her that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the song in your set at Jazz in the Gardens that you never get tired of performing? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never get tired of \u201cEasy\u201d and \u201cAll Night Long\u201d because of the reaction I get from the audience. It’s always a blast to get to hear everyone sing along with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have collaborated with the biggest names in music across all genres. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019d want to name a favorite collaboration, but \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been very lucky to work with some of the greatest names \u2014 Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Kenny Rogers, to name three. Everyone I’ve worked with have been incredibly giving artists. That’s what makes for longevity in this business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before \u201cThe Hustle\u201d and before Studio 54 opened, you and the Commodores were on \u201cSoul Train\u201d playing the disco-friendly instrumental title track from your 1974 Motown Records debut \u201cMachine Gun.\u201d Meeting Don Cornelius had to be a trip. Who was the first big star you met and what was that like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, man, it was like being in Motown University \u2014 I’d walk down the hall and in one booth would be Stevie Wonder, one would be Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson etc., all recording their music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know if you have free time to listen, but whose music are you listening to these days?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I listen to music every day and love the work of artists today like Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino and Drake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the themes anytime your name comes up is, \u201cLionel Richie doesn\u2019t age.\u201d What\u2019s your secret?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I tell you, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore! But, honestly, I give all the credits to my parents. I’m very lucky. My grandmother on my mother’s side lived to be 103, and I hope I have her genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz in the Gardens takes place Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10, at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens. Parking lots are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. each day, with gates opening at 3 p.m. and music starting at 4 p.m. Single-day general-admission tickets start at $72 per day in advance, $83 at the gate. Two-day general-admission passes cost $99 advance, $119 at the gate. Reserved and VIP seats also are available. For information, call 561-681-5645 or visit\u00a0JazzInTheGardens.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The annual Jazz in the Gardens festival in Miami Gardens has always dreamed big for its headliners, which have included some of the most popular names in R&B, pop, jazz and neo-soul, among them Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, Common, John Legend, Robin…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jazzinthegardens.com\/firstact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}