Songwriting Icon Says Lionel Richie Launched His Career in Viral TikTok

Lionel Richle was the voice of the 1980s, and one of his biggest hits helped launch the career of a singer/songwriting icon during the early part of the decade.

Richard Marx took to TikTok to reveal that he played an integral part in the success of Richie’s 1983 pop classic, “All Night Long.” In a video clip, he sings along with the iconic song’s chorus, saying, “It’s me.”

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When Richie sings the song’s title “All Night Long,” Marx follows with “all night.” Those two words support the song’s chorus and is one of its most popular parts.

Marx has shared this story over the years during interviews with Kelly Clarkson and The Bobby Bones Show. In 2023, Marx appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where he shared the details of the moment Richie jump-started his career.

“My first job in the record business was singing background vocals for him,” Marx stated. “When I was 18.”

“I always wanted to be an artist, but I was getting rejected by all the record labels,” Marx continued. “To make a living, to pay my rent, I got a lot of work as a background singer.”

One year prior, in October 2022, Marx elaborated about his work on “All Night Long” and other details of working with the legendary Commodores founder. He told Tamron Hall, “It was my senior year of high school, and he said you should come to L.A., and when you come out here look me up. He gave me his number,” he recalled.

“A year later, I graduated, and I blew off college. Went out to L.A., and he invited me out to the studio. He was making his first solo record, and I sang on a song called ‘You Are.'”

Richard Marx has since gone on to sell more than 30 million records worldwide. He has stated he periodically texts Lionel Richie to thank him for kickstarting his career.